Prayer while waiting

Lord,

today I wait.

Waiting for an appointment,

Waiting for a phone call,

Waiting in line at the store,

Waiting for news about a loved one,

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

something I do a lot.

I am reminded of the words of Dr. Seuss:

"...you’ll start in to race

down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace...

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place… 

…for people just waiting."

-- Dr. Seuss

Usually I think about

the practice of patience

when I am waiting.

While I wait today,

I resist the urge

to distract myself with my smart phone.

Lord,

I choose a different practice: 

to be present in the moment,

to be aware of the now.

I sit and watch:

the people,

the cars driving by,

the hot summer sunshine.

I choose to be aware.

I choose to be present.

I choose to be now.

I receive this present moment as a gift.

For this little while as I wait,

Lord, thank you for helping me see

waiting does not have to be useless.

Thank you for the gift of now.

Amen

Prayer on my birthday

Lord,

It's my birthday!

Thank you for the gift of life.

Thank you for another year.

I pray for health, strength, and well-being in the coming year.

May I celebrate each day as a gift,

sometimes with cake and presents,

and always with joy and gratitude.

My son told me recently:

"Birthdays are good for you.

The more you have the longer you live!"

So Lord,

here's to more birthdays.

Here's to more days to celebrate your love.

Here's to more joy in daily living.

Thank you for the gift of today!

Amen.

Prayer after a long walk

Lord,

My wife loves walking for exercise;

bless her!

I do NOT.

A stroll after dinner is nice.

A long walk on the beach is enjoyable.

I like going on a hike in the woods,

but I do not enjoy walking for exercise.

I'm not sure why it feels so different.

Lord,

you know what I do like after a long walk?!

Sitting down

a chair holding my weight 

with a cool drink of water.

The rest after the sweaty movement is the best especially when it's in the mountains.

Lord,

Use each step to make me more healthy.

Teach me the joy of exercise, please?!

And receive my soulful gratitude 

as I rest in this chair

with a glass of cool water

on the porch in your mountains!

Alleluia.

Amen.