A Prayer

Some Pharisees thought it too simple (some Disciples thought so too), but the prayer You taught them to pray held all that was required, for it held the hallowed glimpse of their Father.

There was no petition for a roof - or bed, but, You taught them to ask for daily bread.

Since You understood the Father's will is to be done on earth as it is done in Heaven; since You understood the Father's will is to be done in His time and in His way, there was no petition for their ways in their understanding of their time.

Since You knew how hard it is to forgive, since You could not forget the face of Aaron's mother and yet, how humans yearn to be forgiven, remembering the sound of a woman's earring as she bowed her head to be forgiven, You echoed Atonement by teaching the ones who listened, to understand that they are forgiven as they forgive.

Knowing their fears, knowing their large and sometimes small, sad temptations, You asked them to ask the Father to keep them from such tests. You asked them to ask the Father to protect them from the Evil.

That was all there was to it. A short prayer - of trust. A short prayer, affirming the Father's love.

Oh, there was one thing more. You taught them to say Our Father, so that each time they prayed, they prayed for each other.

Grand Junction, CO,
1992

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