November 30, 2022
“May Cause Dizziness”: A Prayer
O Lord, another medication I need,
another label to read,
another warning to heed:
“May Cause Dizziness”;
oh great,
as if I needed to feel more dizzy;
as if I needed to feel more confused;
as if I needed to feel more
troubled,
muddled,
befuddled;
politics
making my head spin;
culture
making my head hurt;
the world
making my head ache;
so how about
something that will
clear my head,
untangle my thoughts,
calm my mind;
or how about
something that will
help make sense out of all that is happening,
help restore sanity to politics and culture,
help re-establish virtue in our life together;
but above all,
how about
something that
“May Cause Hope”, or
“May Cause Joy”, or
“May Cause Peace”;
medications
gladly take!
But the thing is, O Lord, there are no such medications,
no such prescriptions, no such pills, even though
some people think there are, but not
talking what they're talking,
talking
hope for humankind,
joy to the world,
peace on earth,
talking
goodwill among all;
talking
the return of holiness;
and for this
no pill,
only a story,
the story
of the Holy One of Bethlehem
being born in,
of all places,
a dump of a barn,
amidst straw and dung,
life at its most ordinary,
young parents
not sure
what to make of it all,
troubled,
muddled,
befuddled,
heads spinning with confusion,
trembling with fear,
dizzy with disbelief,
and yet,
believing anyway,
believing in spite of,
believing even though;
but
a story too
of the Holy Child being born in
a dark and dangerous world, a world in which
the murderous Herod stalked,
violence threatened the innocent,
little children are slaughtered,
the world as it really is,
the parents taking the Holy Child and
running for their lives;
and yet,
a story
of angels
declaring
that we need not be afraid,
bringing
good news of great joy:
proclaiming
that unto us a savior has been given,
and suddenly
the night sky coming alive
with the glittering wings
of a thousand angels
praising you, O Lord,
announcing
peace, goodwill.
O Lord, all we have is
a story,
but it is
more than a story,
it is the
truth,
and so a story that
“May Cause Hope,” or
“May Cause joy”, or
“May Cause Peace”,
because
it is a story
of you being found
in the midst of befuddlement,
in the midst of violence and evil,
in the midst of life at it’s most
real,
with us,
working salvation and life,
thus need not fear,
your presence
our hope,
our joy,
our peace,
if only we would
believe,
trust,
obey.
And we pray especially, O Lord, for those who have
every reason to be afraid or know little hope or joy
or peace; those who are ill, who are hurting,
who are dying, who are grieving, who are
struggling with depression, and for the
hungry and homeless and refugees
of this world;
grace them with
the hope and joy and peace knowing that
you are with them and will heal and comfort
and console and strengthen and deliver them,
and through your people
feed and house and
give safe haven.
O Lord, the last thing I need is a medication that
“May Cause Dizziness”;
what I need is
a daily dose of the Gospel,
a daily dose of your love,
a daily dose of
truth,
with side effects
such as
hope,
joy,
peace.
Amen.