Verse

Observations

Great Spirit, may I achieve greatness, but as you define it.

Praying for the sin of pride? Not really. Rather to recognize that greatness has only one permanent and valuable appraisal, and that is by the definition of our creator. This is surprisingly different from what others consider earthly greatness, and then we strive for that former definition of greatness.

Let me be a channel of your love to every creature I touch.

I'm still trying to understand God's love. A bit like drinking from a fire hose and then going around with my little watering can. Jesus and others have pulled it off in their own measure. The jury is still out for me.

Help me enrich the lives of the poor in spirit with my only reward that I be a true instrument in your hand.

My legacy mantra, to leave good works behind drove this, and I thought to be humble by not asking for much in return. Upon reflection, I asked for a great deal in return, an indication that God found me useful.

I do this because you are the ultimate goodness, and striving toward that brings meaning to my fleeting life.

Our world teaches us to be happy. I'd rather that my life have meaning than that the proper voltage is applied to all my nerve endings.

Without you, we are all just insignificant cogs in a mindless machine.

I don't believe in hell or the devil. I can send myself to hell by coming to the conclusion that I am nothing but a temporary, insignificant cog in a mindless machine. I can go there without a devil.

Instead, I thank you for coming into my life, for this breath, and for the wonders, epiphanies, miracles, comfort, and love showered on my every day.

I always take a big breath here, as would a good Buddhist or Zen meditator, and realize why we thank God. He doesn't need the groveling. It's a trick to get us to realize what is happening to us.

Born as your child, may I bring you delight growing into the man you want me to be.

For all I received in the previous verse, what's in it for God? What can I do to make this a two-way street? This is the best I could come up with to feed my capitalist need to make this a good deal for God as well.

Keep my pursuit of riches focused on the good it can produce, not on a hunger for power and consumption.

I see this as such a common way to lose one's purpose that I ask to be spared even though it doesn't currently have much draw on me. I look at money as the way we keep score and allow me to do what else is in this prayer.

May the Holy Spirit inspire and guide me to understand my mission, and help me earn the courage and wisdom, the perseverance and kindness to fulfill it.

This really is the punchline, the summary, the great trade, that is, what I hope to receive and what I'll try to give back.