A prayer for Dry, Parched, Cold, Feeble People!

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.)

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