Pastoral Prayer for January 9, 2022

Loving God,

Teach me a child’s way of living in my heart and mind today:

            Playful

            Open

            Curious

            Unguarded

            Innocent

            Quick to laugh

            Delighted in the moment

            Easily contented

            Ready to hope – and hope big – all over again

            Forgetful of yesterday

            Reaching for Mommy

            Reaching for Daddy

            Reaching often, God –

            Secure in your presence

            Believing in your goodness

            Trusting in your strength

Help me to bring a childlike attitude when I read the Bible,

especially when I engage with Jesus’ parables.

It’s so easy to see them as one-dimensional stories.

Help me to move inside each parable,

to make myself at home there,

and to learn to see myself and the world

through the eyes of the parable.

Help me, Loving God, to have some FUN with your Word,

by asking the right questions,

by giving free reign to my imagination

in coming up with possible answers and insights.

Amen