“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2nd  Thessalonians 3:5

A PRAYER AS SUMMER ENDS

Summer winds down
The long days are shorter, but not yet short
Late summer fruit is deliciously ripe
Sweet juices nurture me body and soul
As always I lean away from the coming dark
Or maybe more so this season
Sun and warmth and fragrance and summer song
Have been a balm to my wounds
Crystalline dark does not call me

Those I love are happy
As happy as possible when there is a missing
And the one missing is happiest of all
Each turn of the sun brings us closer to peace
Not acceptance not getting over
But peace in the midst of the missing
I wonder – is it summer forever there
Is there warmth and sun and flowers and fruit
Are there patios with gentle breezes and good friends

My sweet Lord
The summer of unbroken love
The summer of eternal relationship
Is your perennial truth
From before there was time you loved
And lived in perfect harmony of three in one self
But somehow longing for more love
Longing overflowed into creating and loving us
We who begin but do not end

Give me eyes to see the expressions of your perfect beauty
Give me ears to hear you singing love songs over me
Give me a heart to feel the warm embrace of eternal living love
Give me stillness to savor your sweet fragrance incensing my days
Give me stamina to endure with delight the waiting to come home
Give me desire to midwife others into your love
Give me healing that pours over other hurting lives
Give me days of hard walking to exercise my dependence on you
In all things give me you