by Rev. Lynne Hinton
God, make me more like Mary. So simply radiant in her reply to Your news.
So confident in what You can do, what You will do through her,
to bring forth love into the world.
So faithful to the invitation.
Let me believe as she believed.
And more like the shepherds, attentive to the vulnerable,
my life’s purpose to care.
Teach me to be still,
to acknowledge there are angels in the night sky
and to be as fearless as they were to run and see what they were told,
to leave my place and bear witness to miracles both on earth and above it.
Let me know when an angel calls.
God, let me be like them too, the angels with a song that will not be contained,
joy filling my heart until it spills out in music and laughter.
To be willing to keep telling the news, the good news, the life-affirming news,
God is right here! God is among us!
Let me share the message of hope.
And finally there are the wise men, people. I’d say.
Make me more like them, unwilling to put aside what I know to be true,
to put it all the line and journey the path of stardust because I must.
Because I cannot not go.
Help me to be willing to do whatever is necessary to find the truth,
even if it requires leaving comfort and familiarity,
to bring gifts because I will recognize goodness when I see it.
Let me go where I am led to go.
On this Christmas, O God,
open my heart to Your messages,
my spirit to Your call.
Let me find what You have made possible,
and honor Your miracles of Love.