November 10, 2021
Better Get the Christmas Shopping Done Now: A Prayer
O Lord, it’s been the dire warning on
the morning news
morning after morning,
that we’d better get
our Christmas shopping
done now,
right away,
not tomorrow,
but today;
and while we’re at it,
better grab a turkey
while there are still turkeys
left to grab;
and if we spot
a new car
on a lot
on the way home,
better buy it
on the spot
before the lot
doesn’t have a lot
on the lot;
shortages here,
shortages there,
shortages everywhere;
supply chain
not supplying,
stock
not stocked,
shelves
not shelved;
workers,
drivers,
butchers,
bakers,
candlestick makers,
few and far between.
And other shortages too,
shortage of
patience,
respect,
manners;
and don’t forget the
shortage of
truth,
kindness,
trust;
and oh yes, a
shortage of
sense, as in common
sense, good
sense;
but
no shortage of
rudeness,
rancor,
rage;
no shortage of
violence,
fist fights over the last roll of Charmin
in the Charmin aisle
(not very charmin’, that),
fliers slugging fellow fliers
and flight attendants too
(friendly skies, not),
crass customers
cleaning cashiers’ clocks
(being real jerks to clerks);
no shortage of
stupidity, as in
sheer,
rank,
utter.
O Lord, what’s our problem, anyway?
We can survive shortages;
our grandparents did,
our parents did, and we
ourselves have too
over the years;
we can make pizza
for Thanksgiving;
children can survive
fewer presents;
Christmas
might be more
Christmas than
Christmas has been for a long time.
What we
can’t survive
is a
scarcity of
truth,
scant
kindness,
sparse
trust, being
shy of hope and joy, the very
shortages people should mind
yet many don’t.
And maybe that’s
the problem –
remembering
what should matter.
O Lord, you know how frustrated we get,
how angry we become,
how anxious we feel
during times like we are in.
And so,
ease our frustration,
cool our anger,
calm our hearts;
and give us the
patience and
strength and
faith we need
to deal with
what we must, and
not take our frustration and anger and anxiety
out on others, but
maintain manners,
remain respectful,
stay sensible,
and increase
kindness,
graciousness,
and trust and truth and thoughtfulness,
be a regular
supply chain
of what matters most.
And Lord, never let there be a shortage of healing and
comfort and strength for
those who are ill,
those who are suffering and hurting,
those who are dying,
those who are grieving,
those hanging on by a thread,
the hungry, the homeless, and all who despair.
Supply them
with an abundance
of all that they need!
O Lord, now, right away, not tomorrow, but today
help us
to remember
the shortages
that matter most
and be people
who are
long
on such things
so that never
will we go
short
of hope
and joy.
Amen.