Today we thank you, O God, for giving me the peace and composure necessary to refrain from punching that bitchy, entitled British asshole, explaining to his friends that politeness has long been lost in Asia, in earshot of the very nice woman making his coffee at only the speed possible for the one-cup-at-a-time espresso machine. I of course find that people here are quite friendly, but then I am nice to them also. Had I been her, I’d have looked him dead in the eye, said “I’m sorry Sir, but I am not able to speak English very well, and don’t understand what it is you want to order” in a flawless British accent, poured his coffee down the drain, and moved on to the next customer. Had I hit the guy, it might have momentarily felt worth it, but I suspect going to a Malaysian prison for assault and battery ultimately wouldn’t have been much fun. Oh, your mercies are never-ending. Amen.
Category: Little Prayers
Today we thank you, O God, for Grab (Uber) and bus drivers who are awake far earlier than any human being ever should be. Airlines that move your flight to an earlier time, making those drivers necessary, though? Not so much. Amen.
Today we thank you, O God, for the life and ministry of Christ Lutheran Church in West Boylston, MA. As they celebrate their final worship service today, help their sorrow to be tinged with joy in the things your Spirit has done in and through them over the last almost 70 years. The grass withers, and the flower fades, but your Word, O Lord, stands forever. Amen.
Today we thank you, O God, for the constancies of life, the things we can always count on. Like your love and grace, or the joy that eventually comes after sorrow. Or that my nose gets itchy one half-second after I put my CPAP machine mask on. Amen.
Today we thank you, O God, for the women, men, and others who serve your gospel courageously when others tell them to get lost. For you leave the “found” sheep to find all those who are lost. May your holy Church be always called to remember that you separate the sheep from the goats based not on their doctrine, but on their love. Amen.
Today we thank you, O God, that the entire field of biblical studies can pretty much be summed up in two hours. Evidently. Amen.
Today we thank you, O God, for a tossed salad of cultures. Because it was a lot of fun sitting in an Indian restaurant in a Malay town speaking Chinese (poorly) with some students. Amen.
Today we thank you, O God, for the wonderful diversity of your cre— WHAT IS THAT OH MY GOD THAT IS THE BIGGEST SPIDER I HAVE EVER SEEN IT IS AT LEAST FIVE INCHES ACROSS KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT WITH FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE! Amen.
Today we thank you, O God, for the chatter of frogs after the rain. We do not, however, thank you for the little lizards that dart in and out of our peripheral vision, and ask you to kindly help them remain outdoors where they belong, instead of in my bedroom where they do not. Amen.
Today, we thank you, O God, for rainstorms and for dry balconies from which to experience them. There are few perfect joys in life, things that engage every sense in pleasure. But in every part of the globe, this is one of them. Amen.