Our Father: A Life's Reading

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
(Lord God Almighty,
Creator of the universe
And sustainer of my life,
You are everywhere.
Your Presence holds all life together.)

Hallowed be Thy Name.
(Blessed be Your Name!
May all peoples
Come to know You
And proclaim You their Redeemer!)

Thy Kingdom come.
(Yes, please,
Make Your Kingdom manifest,
Visible and available
To all who seek You!)

Thy Will be done,
(Yes, Lord, Your Will...
What would please You?
What would bring You
Glory and Honor and Praise?
How can we manifest
Your Will here on earth?)

On Earth as it is in Heaven.
(Because we know
You're exercising
The full extent of Your Will
In the Heavens,
And not yet in this mortal reality.
We can't wait for that day to come!)

Give us this day our daily bread,
(You know we have needs,
And what those needs are.
Provide for those needs
On a day-to-day basis.
Give us what we need
When we need it.)

And forgive us our tresspasses
(We have an awful lot of these.
Words, gestures, or looks
Meant to intimidate or convey disdain,
Carelessly scattered in our daily dealings...
Thoughts focused more on
What we can get out of life
Than put back into it...
Plans of malice and deceit,
Flung into action,
Forcing others to reap
The fruits of our bitterness...
Ignoring You,
And all that You have
To teach us.
Hate is not the polar opposite of Love;
Apathy is,
And too often,
We live our lives
Not caring about You.
O Lord, we are but dust.
Forgive us.)

As we forgive those who tresspass against us.
(May we extend
The same degree of mercy and kindness
To those who screw us around,
Hurt us,
Malign us,
And abuse us,
As You extend to us
When we screw You around,
Hurt You,
Malign You,
And abuse You,
Either directly rebelling against You,
Or indirectly damaging others.
Cultivate pity in our hearts.
It is the only thing
That can infuse hope into
The wretchedness of our lives. *)

And lead us not into temptation,
(I know Scripture says
That we are never tempted
Beyond our means to avoid the temptation, **
But I must tell You that
It usually doesn't feel that way!
Pushed and pulled
By forces internal and external,
We often feel
That submission is the best way.
It's certainly the easiest way.
Give us the strength to persevere,
To hold out, hang on,
And rely on You
To steer us away from sin and death.
If we keep our eyes
Focused on You,
Your Light will eclipse
The darkness threatening to extinguish us.)

But deliver us from evil.
(And when bad things happen -
Illness and injury -
Fear and betrayal -
Disaster, destruction and death -
Comfort us. Help us.
Reassure us. Save us.)

Amen.
(So be it, Lord...
So be it,
All the days of our mortal and eternal lives...)

* The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

** No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)