A Great Prayer for the Beginning of the Work Week

This is a prayer from the  book "The Prayers of Peter Marshall."  It seems to me it is a great prayer for the beginning of the work week.


I think this prayer answers the question of how much do we depend on God and how much on ourselves.  It seems to me it's a matter of knowing not to turn our own responsibilities over to God, but to know that he is there to help us have the strength to fulfill our responsibilities.  Our strength will be in proportion to our faith.

I haven't written on this blog for a long time, because I've gotten so involved in one of my other blogs, which is called "Old Woman on a Bicycle."  I actually have followers on that blog, so that makes me take more of an interest in it.  However, after putting down "Ulysses" for a long time, I'm back to reading again, so I think I will be adding to the posts I've already written on "Ulysses."  Also my interest in current politics is sliding away.  The Republicans and Romney makes me so angry that I've just started avoiding listening to political commentary any more.  Although, after the Supreme Court decision on Obamacare, I was reved up enough to donate online $4 each to Obama and Gillibrand.  Take that Mr. Romney.

A National Prayer

Although I've been feeling depressed today, I realize it's because my life has become too outward and not enough inward.  I haven't been meditating or praying hardly at all because I have been so preoccupied with making art, or trying to make it.  However, that isn't enough to make me happy.  I need daily contact with God and my spiritual nature.  Creativeness and the spiritual nature are closely linked, but they aren't quite the same.  Art can become a substitute for religion, but I don't think it's adequate, which is why many artists go bonkers (i.e., Van Gogh), and why I've been feeling very depressed.  My two-bit analysis of Van Gogh is that he was a very religious man, but felt rejected by organized religion, so I think he substituted art for religion, but that doesn't work.  Finding something one loves to do, like painting, gives one some satisfaction, but not real happiness.  Being obsessed with art doesn't keep one from drinking.  I've always felt a very close kinship with Van Gogh.

This evening I walked to my local park and opened the book "The Prayers of Peter Marshall" and immediately read this prayer that I copied below. The part of this prayer that really hit home with me is the line about giving love to those who can't recompense you.  I think that's the hardest thing in life to do, and I've failed at it most of my life.  I've always dismissed people who can't give me anything back, or can ever have anything to offer me, even elementary kindness, after I feel that I've given to them.  In looking back on my life, I feel most grateful for the people, who when I was very young and empty inside with nothing to offer, helped me anyway.  Now in my senior years, I remember those people the most of anyone.

The Reverend Peter Marshall, Chaplin to the US Congress

I found the following prayer in this book of prayers by Peter Marshall.  It seems to me this is not only a good personal prayer, but it would make a wonderful national prayer for our country, the USA.  We need to show love to other countries and the people in other countries who can't possibly recompense us at all.  We seem to show the most love for countries who have something we want in return like oil or loans.  But, being truly Christian, means loving and doing for others who have nothing to give back.  Jesus acted that way.  He gave love and understanding to prostitutes and other low-lifes who are people who have nothing to give in return, but in doing so, he saved their lives.  By acting that way to other countries, the United States could help save nations.  Only by acting that way, could the USA become a truly Christian nation.  The dichotomy between our country's political environment and Christian values astonishes me.