Original Prayers

Recently I've been coming across a lot of prayers which really speak to me. I've gotten into the habit of scribbling them down on a scrap of paper and either carrying them with me or putting them where I'm most likely to say them -- the evening one is in the Bible next to the bed, the one for after Eucharist is in the purse I take to church, the one where I ask for help in discerning my call lives in my back pocket...

Last night Ray decided to stay at a friend's place to play Magic all night, so I stayed with Tim (the bed, alas, is not big enough for three, as we've discovered generally to the distress of whoever winds up in the middle). Left my nighttime prayer at home. So I'm lying there trying to remember the thing...

Keep watch, dear Lord,
with those who work,
or watch,
or purr,
or snore,
err wups,
how is he asleep already?
Grr.
Um.
Hi Thomas *pause to pet cat*
Right.
Tend the sick, Lord Christ,
give rest to the weary,
bless the dying,
comfort the disturbed,
disturb the comfortable,
oh bugger,
that's not it either.
Err.
Sorry.
So, um. It's dark and I'm going to sleep now.
Can you just keep an eye on me?
Amen.

More often than not, when I don't have a written-down prayer with me, this is how things wind up.

I figure if nothing else, it's genuine...