I owe so much of my spiritual heritage to people I have never met and know little or nothing about. One of the joys of heaven, I believe, will be seeing our lives from the perspective of God’s Big Story. And in that story there are so many individuals God has used anonymously to fulfill his purposes. How much of our own life’s work has been done anonymously? By that I mean, are we aware of every way God has used our lives or will use them even after we are gone?
Let me give you an example. In the seventeenth century an anonymous elderly nun wrote a prayer. This is what she prayed:
Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will someday be old. Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details–giving me wings to come to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of other’s pains. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains–they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint–some of them are so hard to live with–but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
When this elderly nun wrote her prayer, she had no idea whatsoever that hundreds of years later a Baptist minister would be writing a blog using her prayer as inspiration. Scripture tells us of the possibility of our works “following us” (Revelation 14:13). This nun’s written prayer has touched millions of lives and she never knew that her small deed would carry such weight.
Neither do we. That’s why each of us should choose our words wisely and walk circumspectly because we have no idea how God will use them to advance his Kingdom. Our little “three-score-and-ten” matter. Each day brings with it tremendous opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life. Even someone who is yet to be born.
Richard
This nun’s prayer carries a heavy burden of truth. That the forgetfulness,which changes the way we remember the story when others remember it differently. The pressing need to use up all this knowledge I’ve been carrying around for years never mind that most of it is outdated. I try to not take over the conversation, but I may forget what I was going to say if the other person talks too long. I try to avoid being the grumpy old woman, but sometimes she just slips out and I need to go to my quiet corner and relax.