With what’s happened in Charlottesville this weekend (so unbelievable in the sleepy university town where I spent four years as an undergrad) and with our Gospel readings for today (about Peter walking on the water), I dusted off this prayer written during the early days of my parental care-giving gig (which got a little overwhelming, at times!) Maybe today we can say, “Lord, please save US!”
Saint Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. It was a fine time until he looked down: there was no ground, just deep sea all around. His faith step faltered and he started to sink, then cried out: Lord, please save me! Today I tried that walking on water faith thing, but when the going got tough, like St. Peter I prayed:
Lord, Please Save Me
(the surf down here is getting rough!)
+++++++
Waves of frustration swell the shores of my anger
(nothing is going my way today)
shake – rattle – let go
Lord, please save me!!
Waves of self-doubt stir up 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 freeze my courage muscles
(can’t, won’t, NOT, too scared to try)
shake – rattle – work them out
Lord, please save me!!
Waves of mold muddle 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 hash 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 drain the shores of my faith
(why now? why this? why ME?)
shake – rattle – believe
Lord, please save me!
Waves of love surround the shores of my prickly heart
(what’s that soft knocking I hear?)
shake – rattle – open up
Lord, please save me!
Waves of joy shower 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 GETTING ROUGH –
PLEASE SAVE US!!
grace, peace & stormy weather
: / Virginia : )
Roses in the Rubble 
Seems to me, the best thing we can do — during stormy as well as calm times — is to pray!!
Amen, Debbie – praying is good. I’ve used this quickie one from St. Peter many times (the shortest in the Gospels) but methinks longer ones may hold God’s attention a little longer? 🙂 grace, peace & prayer! – Virginia
That’s a great prayer, Ginny, simple, yet profound! So sorry to hear about the tragedy in your beloved Cville ☹️
It’s too unbelievable for words (altho I just tried to write a few…) We need to get down on our knees & PRAY (really hard) then stand up for equality against all this extremism. St. Peter’s prayer is a good one: Lord, please save us (from sinking in waves of despair!) Love & hugs – gL