“Make Me Simple” (by Ted Loder – a Presbyterian pastor)

Ingenious God,

I rejoice in your creation,

and pray that your Spirit touch me so deeply

that I will find a sense of self which makes me glad to be who I am

and yet restless

at being anything less

than I can become.

Make me simple enough

not to be confused by disappointments,

clear enough

not to mistake busyness for freedom,

honest enough

not to expect truth to be painless,

brave enough

not to sing all my songs in private,

compassionate enough

to get in trouble,

humble enough

to admit trouble and seek help,

joyful enough

to celebrate all of it,

myself and others and you

through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1

Amen.