My heart is heavy.
Heavy like a bulky suitcase carried too long,
Heavy like the pressure at the bottom of the pool’s deep end,
Heavy like feet at the end of a long day’s walk,
Heavy like carrying bad news to a friend,
Lifter of the heavyhearted, hear my prayer.
Help me to remember the strength that first lifted
and bore the weight easily.
Help me to remember the sweet surrender of diving
and the adventure of going deep.
Help me to remember the lightness of step
at the beginning of a purposeful journey.
Help me to remember how even bad news
is endured together in love’s embrace.
You are the God of the heavyhearted and the lighthearted,
keep me near your heart this day. Amen.
I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.