I Pray Shalom for You

Six months ago when I was just starting as the new pastor here at UniPlace Christian Church in Champaign one of our elders read a beautiful prayer to me from this book.  I asked for a copy of the prayer, and not long after received the book itself as a gift from her.  Today as I was reading through I came across the prayer again.  It remains my favorite in this book:

I Pray Shalom for You

I pray shalom for you --

That you wake each day eager to meet whatever comes,

That you look in the mirror and are pleased with what you see,

That you accept with courage any limitations on your abilities,

That you accept with humility, but develop creatively, your special talents,

That you know which things take priority,

That you are not stressed by having to set some things aside,

That what you do illuminates who you are,

      and that you find joy in all you do.

I pray shalom for you --

That your face is turned towards God,

That you are secure in the forgiveness of Christ,

That your life is infused with the presence of the Holy Spirit,

That your whole being is daily transformed and integrated into oneness with Christ,

     and hence wholeness and wellness,

That in having died to self you are alive to your true self,

That love is your prime motivation.

I pray shalom for you --

That you have a soul-friend to walk life's journey with you,

That you are surrounded by a community of support,

That you are a builder of community,

That you are able to transform difficult or destructive relationships through love,

That you may live in a society of justice, peace and harmony,

But if not, that you may be able to absorb whatever suffering comes your way

     And transform it, for yourself and for society.

I pray shalom for you --

That the beauty of God's creation entrhalls you,

That your love and way of life enhance that beauty and do not deplete

     the resources of the earth,

That the rhythm of your life may be in harmony

     with the rhythm of others' lives and of all creation,

     to be part of God's plan of restoration and renewal

I pray shalom for you --

That your faith may grow,

That you be filled with love,

And that hope never dies.

-- Isobel de Gruchy, South Africa