Byrnesys Blabberings

In London with no wifi at the moment but I mentioned a little while ago that Scott Prather had given me some of Stanley Hauerwas’ ethics lectures, I’ve been working through some of the lectures and found that I very much enjoyed his opening prayers, so I will share one for you below, I enjoy his irony and sense of genuine engagement in Prayer:

"Lord, thou know us, better than I know myself, that I am growing older and will someday be old, Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion, release me from craving to straighten out everybodies affairs

Make me thoughtful, but not moody, Helpful, but not bossy, With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end, Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details, give me wings to get me to this point, Seal my lips on my aches and pains, they are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by,

I dare not ask for Grace enough to enjoy the tales of others pain, but help me endure them with patience, I dare not ask for improved memory but for a growing humility, and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memory’s of other, Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken,

keep me reasonably sweet, I do not want to be a saint, some of them are so hard to live with, but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil, Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people, and give me Oh Lord the grace to tell them so,

Amen"