Saint Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. All was fine until he looked down – there was NO GROUND, just deep sea all around. His faith step faltered & he started to sink, then cried out: Lord, please save me! Today I tried that walking on water faith thing, but the going got tough. So, like St. Peter I prayed…

Lord, Please Save Me

(the surf down here is gettin’ rough)

 Waves of frustration crash on the shores of my anger

(nothing is going my way today)

shake – rattle – let go

Lord, please save me!!

Waves of self-doubt crash on the shores of my insecurities

(I am just a nothing nobody)

shake – rattle – look up

Lord, please save me!!

Waves of apathy crush my empathy for the suffering in this world

(there’s already too much on my plate)

shake – rattle – look around

Lord, please save me!!

 Waves of fear crash on my courage muscles

(can’t, won’t, NOT, too scared to try)

shake – rattle – work them out

Lord, please save me!!

 Waves of mold crash on the shores of my mildewed mind

(too much mindlessness, too little mind-filled-ness)

shake –rattle – be transformed

Lord, please save me!

 Waves of helplessness crash on the shores of my abilities

(challenges are TOO BIG, I am TOO small)

shake – rattle – take a leap of faith

Lord, please save me!

 Waves of doubt crash on the shores of my faith

(why now? why this? why ME?)

shake – rattle – believe

Lord, please save me!

 Waves of love crash on the shores of my prickly heart

(what’s that soft knocking I hear?)

shake – rattle – open up

Lord, please save me!

 Waves of joy crash on the shores of my sadness

(Beautiful Savior, come to save me!)

shake – rattle – be lifted up

Lord, please save me!

 Waves of mercy wash the shores of my thirsty heart

(Holy Redeemer, forgive me!)

shake – rattle – receive

Lord, please save me!

 

OH LORD

– THE SURF DOWN HERE IS GETTIN’ ROUGH –

PLEASE SAVE ME!!

Virginia’s Note:  Two weeks ago during a bad day when NOTHING seemed to be going anywhere but down, down, down, I found this Newfoundland pic in a box of old photos. Looking at it I sat down later & wrote this sort-of-prayer-poem. It helped me feel better so I plotted to post it the following Sunday (given Gospel reading re: Peter jumping out of boat.) BUT –  the surf got a bit rough that morning when my very sick bed-fast quadriplegic Papa was zoomed by ambulance to Hospital & subsequently spent all week there for pneumonia.  After several all-day-&-all-nighters, the surf was a bit more than rough. So, I thank God that this simple prayer (repeated often during frenetic days in Africa & Kosovo & the Middle East) is still so powerful. Hey, it worked for Peter! I thank God for all the grace provided last week to surf through the ‘rough stuff.’ Papa is much better (altho very weak and quarantined from appointments & visitors for several weeks.) We are grateful for the continued care from Home Healthcare nurses and therapists coming each day.

LIFE IS A GIFT!  amen… & Lord, please save us!

(the surf down here is still a bit rough!! :  )