A Thanksgiving Prayer

Rev. Jeffrey Symynkywicz, November 18, 2001

At this time of Thanksgiving, O God,
gently cleanse these conflicted minds of ours
of all human-made complications,
and free our pent-up hearts
of all small and petty, self-centered meanderings:
Help us clear a space for you to enter;
let there be enough room for your hundred faces (at least)
to shine their divine smiles in our souls.

At this Thanksgiving,
let us see your divine countenance
in all of those we love,
and see them not merely as some clouded reflection
of our own puny needs, and wants, and desires.

Let us see divinity in every fallen leaf,
and not have to go on
endlessly trampling all over the face of Earth
in search of ever-taller towers and ever-larger structures
and ever-stronger fortresses.

Let us know the divine essence
enfolded in every human tear;
the divine echo that resounds clearly
in each heartfelt human laugh.

Let us live these days we have before us
neither imprisoned by our fears,
nor holding on with all our strength
to every scrap and second
of these little lives we made.

But let us live these lives fully by giving them away,
by hearing in our ears the liberating rhythm
of our own hearts beating madly;
let us live with our minds and eyes open,
our days full and complete,
always holding open the doorway of Thanksgiving
for your love and grace to enter through again.

Amen.

jbs
7/28/00 - 11/18/01

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