matters for prayer
(I should know there are always these to express)

sigh
so what do I have to say
if anything
right now
or in the hours to come

I give myself the day off as an
option
that some readers might not mind
the break to take
from
the entwinements

I could speak of God
for us
and I do pray for you
for us
although
I have no added insight at the moment
to the prayer

there is a wildfire
nearby
I mean
in my county
so I know the location
       the forest I have driven through
       and hiked in
       and stayed
the place
of a human tragedy of note
(meaning it’s
marked)
from some decades ago

and while containment has been accomplished
the burning still goes there
and for
some days now

so that’s the occasion
looking for an occasion
and here’s
the spiritual part
a prayer
as

dear God

cover the firefighters and
other fighters and supporters
with care

to keep them
cool
(if possible)
and safe
(that by you is)

encourage those who had to leave
as they return
to face the changes
in damage
or simply facing the new way
things must be considered
now

not that we shouldn’t always be aware
of fragilities
and dangers
but
well
who does that all the time
no matter how exigent the living

cool
(if possible)
and safe
(that is)
please
and thank you

amen

so I said this and if you’d like to join
that would be gracious

and so
a prayer for you
and us
in that

dear God

please hear us when we speak to you
and you do
of course
but it is human to speak to you
the way we do
even the way we’re taught

grant calmness of night
and if that can’t be
so
then allow some source of calm within
that we might access
if only can a little

help us to be together
in the new day
together as in self-knit and then
joined with each other
the togetherness
in which
there’s greater hope that the day not only be
endurable
but also good to think about
to feel
and mostly to live through

peace
and union
and
our differences

amen

yes
I prayed this for you
for us
as with the other

c l couch


photo by Harrison Steen on Unsplash