K. is at the ACT, I am puttering around the house working through my list. I found a book of prayer as I was shelving books, and sat down to leaf through it. Two prayers, stuck out, one for our home, one for this season. This is the prayer on the door at St. Stephen's in London.
God make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling-block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter's power. God, make the door of this house that gateway to Thine eternal kingdom.
Amen.
O God of the lonely, Remember this day those who need the warmth of human touch, the sound of loving voice, the presence of caring spirit. The lonely are all around us...cause your Spirit of Loving concern to touch some man and woman, some boy and girl, so that each will be moved to reach out to the one alone who awaits.
a telephone call
a note
a visit
a hug or a kiss
a firm handshake
a warm meal
a long walk
a caring letter
O God of the lonely send those ambassadors of your love so that your lonely children will be lonely no more.
And may those who are lonely ever be open to your biding presence, that they will know though lonely they are not alone! - Woody W. White, 20th century
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