The Real Lord's Prayer

My prayer today is an attempt to respond honestly to the prayer Jesus taught his friends to pray. I invite you to pray it with me.  -Troy

…………………………………..

If I’m honest

my prayer is more

hallowed be my name

than Thy name;

I want to be remembered

and honored, famous,

well-spoken and well-spoken of.

Thus, this plea for forgiveness

is my go-to prayer—

would it become my ability to forgive!

See, I hold grudges; they comfort me

in the self-assurance that I am right

and they are wrong.

I delight in the misfortune of

all those who’ve hurt me.

And I pray “Give me more bread”

when I have in excess already.

I throw away what I could have shared.

I scrape, disbelieving the openness

of your heart and hands.

And, I’ll be honest,

I like the feel of temptation; it’s thrilling.

I like its ease of access these days,

its instant digital delivery.

Jesus, I wonder:

did you mean it

when you said

people like me

should pray

your Prayer?

Yours is the kingdom

and the power and the glory—

but does my life assent

to your authority?

Too often I pray “My will be done.”

And I wonder: can you be my Father

if I do not join with others

who are unlike me,

saying “Our Father”?

If I do not love

my brother, sister,

neighbor, stranger and enemy,

can I say I love you?

How can I love what I don’t see

if I cannot love what’s right in front of me?

And I wonder:

how many other hypocrites like me

could there be?

How many others

will utter the words

you taught us to pray today,

merely mouthing a pretend piety?

How many of us need rather to shorten our plea,

saying simply, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!”

My honest prayer is that you would

keep being patient with me

as I learn your ways of love.

I’m helpless—so, be not far from me;

rather, go behind and before,

to my left and right;

be the Spirit in the air I breathe,

Father in the heavens,

ever-near and always approaching,

immanent and imminent.

Be in my looking and thinking.

Help me to listen before speaking.

Move my heart to share with others;

move my hands to acts of mercy.

Purify my spirit; by your grace

grant me a second innocence.

I know I don’t deserve it, but

make me a child who joins

with other children in your kingdom—

singing, “Our Father!”

Amen.