At The Dawn

A few weeks ago Beth cleaned out my coffee pot and wrote this prayer out and put it inside as a morning surprise. She knows that i hate cleaning out my coffee pot, and she new that i'd had a rough night. I felt so loved. This prayer has become my morning prayer. the cry of my heart.

At the Dawn

Our first glimpse of reality this day - everyday - is your fidelity.
We are dazzled by the ways you remian constant among us,
     in season, out of season,
     for better, for worse,
     in sickness and in health
You are there in watchfulness as we fall asleep;
You are there in alertness when we awaken...and we are glad
     Before the day ends, we will have occasion
          to flag your absence in indifference...
          but not now, not at the dawn.
     Before the day ends, we will think more than once
          that we need a better deal from you.....
          but not now, not at the dawn.
     Before the day ends, we will look away from you and
          relish our own fidelity and our virtue in mercy....
          but now now, not at the dawn.
Now, at the dawn, our eyes are fixed on you in gladness.
     We ask only that your faithfulness
          permeate every troubled place we are able to name,
         that your mercy
         move against the hurt to make new,
         that your steadfastness
        hold firmly what is too fragile on its own.
And we begin the day in joy, in hope, and in deep gladness.
Amen.

~Walter Bruggeman, "Awed to Heaved, Rooted in Earth"