Lord, I start so strong

    saying "Anywhere!"

And I try to war and to defend you

    with sharpness and steel.

But Lord, I merely maim and wound;

    You alone can heal.

And then, bewildered in the mess,

    I start denying, all confused.

But Lord, that crowing in the night

    has jerked my spirit to attention.

And now I know—You knew it then—

    I'm weak,

    inept,

    cowardly,

    betraying,

    dust,

    guilty—just like him.*

O Lord, compassionate and healing,

    You prayed then.

And now I turn

    in humble weakness and

       in faith

    to worship You—and then to strengthen them.

Hallowed by Thy name!

*The high priest's servant, if read from Peter's point of view; Peter,if read from a personal point of view. From Luke 22:31-62

Carolyn Roper