Necessary Sabbath Rest - A Prayer by the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins

Loving God,

Grant me grace

To receive Your Sabbath

Rest and renewal

So often resisted

In frenzied rush

Toward inertias

Of my own making.

Let breathing space

Awaken me to Your breath

Given as gift in every moment

For a soul sustenance

Often taken for granted

Yet bearing the miracle of life

Into my body, mind and spirit.

Let sacred pause still me

Into awe and wonder

At mysteries little and large

Too often taken for granted

By a heart and mind overfull

With distractions dividing

My attention at every turn.

Settle me enough

To notice Your precious pulse

Pressing Your life through me

And in others around me

Permeating Your whole creation

Already singing a song of praise

If only I will stop and listen

To birdsong of early spring.

Yes, let your Sabbath gift

Bear me up in light and love

And offer rest from my restlessness

In discovery of Your resurrection

Already bearing its eternal motion

In this body of me and the world.

Here…now…yes…thank you, Love.

Amen.

Music: A Kind Word by Moments