Prayer: Borderlands

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving and petition inspired by Luke 17: 11-19. It was written by Jan Sutch Pickard, and posted on the Christian Aid website.

Prayer: Borderlands
(inspired by Luke 17: 11-19)

Ever-present God 
you meet us in the borderlands,
in places neither here nor there, 
at times when we are well out of our comfort zone; 
even if we don't know where we're going,
when we feel most lost, 
you are there: 
Thank you, God. 

You meet each of us where we are,
and many of us in our need, 
people marginalized by illness,
not wanting to be a burden, 
those who see their poverty or problems as unacceptable – 
feeling rejected – with faltering self-worth. 

It was in the borderlands that Jesus met a band of lepers, 
whose livelihood was begging,
whose status was untouchable, 
and touched their lives with hope. 

And it was the Samaritan,
the one most of all an outsider, 
who turned back to give thanks. 

We thank you for all we can learn 
from our sisters and brothers who live on the edge, 
in poverty, in the borderlands: 
about gratitude, grace and healing hope. 
Thank you, God. Amen.

~ written by Jan Sutch Pickard, and posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/