Day is done, gone the sun, but I'll make my contribution anyway. This morning I went to the weekly Mass I arranged to be said for my son and family during his deployments, and found a prayer in my missal that I'd never seen before. It was found tucked away on the body of Lt. Andre Zirnheld of the British S.A.S. (professor of philosophy in his civilian life) when he was killed in Libya in 1941.
Civilians will take note, and perhaps be surprised. Soldiers will know exactly what it's all about:
I bring this prayer to You, Lord,
For You alone can give
What one cannot demand from oneself.
Give me, Lord, what You have left over,
Give me what no one ever asks You for.
I don't ask You for rest,
Or quiet,
Whether of soul or body;
I don't ask You for wealth,
Nor for success, nor even health perhaps.
That sort of thing You get asked for so much
That You can't have any of it left.
Give me, Lord, what you have left over,
Give me what no one wants from You.
I want insecurity, strife,
And I want You to give me these
Once and for all.
So that I can be sure of having them always,
Since I shall not always have the courage
To ask You for them.
Give me, Lord, what You have left over,
Give me what others want nothing to do with.
But give me courage too,
And strength and faith;
For You alone can give
What one cannot demand from oneself.
Dear Mr. President, and representatives all:
PLEASE, can you manage not to ADD to his burden?
