Prayers for Hard Times. Becca Anderson

      “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

      —Japanese proverb

      “Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.”

      —Albert Schweitzer

      “We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impression to proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of.”

      —John H. Groberg

      “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”

      —Duke Ellington

      The Fearsome Blessing of Hard Times

      The fearsome blessing of that hard time continues to work itself out in my life in the same way we’re told the universe is still hurtling through outer space under impact of the great cosmic explosion that brought it into being in the first place. I think grace sometimes explodes into our lives like that—sending out pain, terror, astonishment through inner space until by grace they become Orion, Cassiopeia, Polaris, to give us our bearings, to bring us into something like full being at last.

      - Frederick Buechner

      You Will Have Peace

      The Lord bless you and keep you;

      The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

      The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

      —Numbers 6:24–26, The Bible, NIV

      By the Awful Grace of God

      And even in our sleep,

       pain that cannot forget

      falls drop by drop upon the heart,

      and in our own despite,

      against our will,

      comes wisdom to us

      by the awful grace of God.

      —Agamemnon, Aeschylus – 5th Century BC

      Calling All Angels

      Angel of God,

      my guardian dear,

      to whom God’s love commits me here,

      ever this day,

      be at my side

      to light and guard,

      to rule and guide.

      - Catholic Liturgy—A Prayer to Guardian Angels

      Inspire Me to Kindness, Each and Every Day

      Day by day,

      Let me see the grace

      Day by day,

      Let me see the way

      Day by day,

      Let me see the beauty

      Let me hear the music

      day by day

      Let me see the way

      Day by day

      let me see the goodness

      Let me feel the love

      Inspire me to kindness

      Day by day,

      let me see the way

      Let me see the grace

      Let me see the way

      - Day by Day—Hans van Rostenberghe

      Growing Old

      I am of the nature to grow old.

      There is no way to escape growing old.

      I am of the nature to have ill-health.

      There is no way to escape having ill-health.

      I am of the nature to die.

      There is no way to escape death.

      All that is dear to me and everyone I love

      are of the nature to change.

      There is no way to escape being separated from them.

      My actions are my only true belongings.

      I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.

      My actions are the ground on which I stand.

      - Buddha

      Give Us the Power To Heal

      Hail to thee, day! Hail, ye day’s sons!

      Hail, night and daughter of night!

      With blithe eyes look on both of us:

      send to those sitting here speed!

      Hail to you, Gods! Hail, Goddesses!

      Hail, earth that gives to all!

      Goodly spells and speech bespeak we from you,

      and healing hands, in this life.

      - The Poetic Edda—the Lay of Sigrdrifa, 600 AD

      Prayer to St. Joseph the Protector

      O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong,

      so prompt before the Throne of God,

      I place in you all my interests and desires.

      O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession

      and obtain for me from your Divine Son

      all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord;

      so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power

      I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage

      to the most Loving of Fathers.

      O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you

      and Jesus asleep in your arms.

      I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.

      Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me,

      and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.

      St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls,

      pray for us.

      Amen.

      - Prayer to St. Joseph, Patron of the Dying, 100 AD

      Celtic Prayer for Protection

      Give thou thine heart to the wild magic,

      To the Lord and the Lady of Nature,

      Beyond any consideration of this world.

      Do not covet large or small,

      Do not despise weakling or poor,

      Semblance of evil allow not near thee,

      Never give nor earn thou shame.

      The Ancient Harmonies are given thee,

      Understand them early and prove,

      Be one with the power of the elements,

      Put behind thee dishonor and lies.

      Be