Prayer for Today--Sleeper Awake!

         based on Ephesians 5:8-14

Yellow light crept through the cloud-powdered sky, this morning, O God—

         so thick that it re-painted the walls of houses,

         unknown to many who slept or read the morning news.

                  But you were present in that light, Heavenly One—

                           gesturing for us to see… and be with you.

O Spirit, today the epistle’s prayer is our prayer—

Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

We have so much that sleeps and needs to rise from the dead;

so much in the world that needs Christ’s light to shine and reveal.

So shine your healing love on our unspoken fears

that come out as anger toward another;

         shine your healing love on our hidden prejudices

         which reveal themselves in our speech and actions;

                  shine your healing love on our secret despair that

we won’t or can’t make a difference in helping bring

thy Shalom on earth as in heaven.

You whisper again, Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

         Shine on us, O Wisdom.

Shine your way for us to rise to the challenge of living your paths.

Shine a passage through sorrow and physical pain and even death

         until all your world can feel the warmth of your healing light

         soaking through our skin

         and shining from our faces.