Wandering on the sands of time,
I hear the ocean’s crash and roar,
And then the stunning waves break over my feet,
And I wonder how beauty and danger
Can be so mysteriously intertwined.
I see the splendor of a sunset or a lofty mountain scene,
And I marvel that such beauty can exist
In this fallen world of ours;
And then I see the wretchedness
Of human poverty
And I marvel that humanity,
The crowning glory of creation,
Can sink to such disgrace.
And so I wrestle on,
Learning how
To love imperfect people more perfectly,
To be passionate, yet disciplined;
Vulnerable, but invincible;
Free, yet secure.
Almighty Father, teach me how
To live recklessly, yet carefully,
To live joyfully without ignoring the plethora of human misery
In this old world;
To enjoy beauty without ignoring ugliness;
To be quick to see the good in other people
Without condoning or excusing sin;
To keep my eyes fixed firmly on my heavenly home,
While living in the world as it is;
To be a stranger and pilgrim without becoming a useless wanderer;
Lord, help me to be virtuous without being high-minded;
To give generously while still being humble enough to receive;
To be able to mourn without wallowing in a pool of self-pity;
To have a soft heart, but faith as firm as a rock;
To rest assured in my beliefs without becoming dogmatic;
To enjoy the world You have created while longing for a far better one;
For I know the tide is coming in
And that before long, these sands will be
Swallowed by the waves;
And then this mortal will put on
Immortality.
