Lord,
at Mass today
the reading went,
“I prayed
and understanding was given to me.
I entreated
and the Spirit of Wisdom came to me.”

And I had a sense
that you stand, poised,
ready to give me
absolutely everything that I need
to deal with life –
if only I ask.

Somehow
I need to figure out
just what, exactly,
I should be asking for.
Because whatever I need
is there for the asking
– the grace to forgive others
– the grace to forgive myself
– the grace to accept
– the grace to refrain from thinking,
“if only … ”

(c) Claire Murray, 10/10/15