The Grace in Which we Stand

 

Lord how much juice you can squeeze from a single grape.

How much water you can draw from a single well.

How great a flame you can kindle from a tiny spark.

How great a tree you can grow from a tiny seed

My soul is so dry that by itself it cannot pray;

Yet you can squeeze from it the juice of a thousand prayers.

My soul is so parched that by itself it cannot love;

Yet you can draw from it boundless love for you and for my neighbour.

My soul is so cold that by itself it has no joy;

Yet you can light the fire of heavenly joy within me.

My soul is so feeble that by itself it has no faith;

Yet by your power my faith grows to a great height.

Thank you for prayer, for love, for joy, for faith;

Let me always be prayerful, loving, joyful, faithful.

(Guigo the Carthusian, died 1188.)

Comments

[Phil Ewing]

Jim. Thanks for this beautiful prayer.
Blessings

[Poetreehugger.blogspot.com]

Oh! I just read this poem yesterday somewhere, and could gladly read it every day. Thanks.