The Glory in the Grey
Almighty God, Creator:
In these last days storms have assailed us.
Greyness has enveloped and mist surrounded
our going out and our coming in.
Now again Thy glory clarifies,
Thy light lifts up our hearts to Thee,
And night falls in peace...
Almighty God, Redeemer:
Even as with their bodies, so also with our souls.
Redeemer, Christ:
Sunshine and storm, mist and greyness
eddy round our inner lives.
But as we trace the pattern, looking back...
Thy constant care in all, and everywhere,
is manifest.
Almighty God, Sustainer:
Sun behind all suns,
soul behind all souls,
everlasting reconciler of our whole beings:
show to us and everything we touch and everyone we meet
the blessed assurance of Thy presence round us:
lest ever we think Thee absent.
In all created things Thou art there.
In every friend we have
the sunshine of Thy presence is shown forth.
In every enemy that seems to cross our path,
Thou art there within the cloud
to challenge us with thy grace
Show to us the glory in the grey.
Awake for us Thy presence in the very storm
till all our joys are seen as Thee
and all our tasks emerge as sacraments
in the universal temple of Thy love.
Of ourselves we cannot see this. Sure physician give us sight.
Of ourselves we cannot act. Patient lover give us love:
till every shower of rain speaks of Thy forgiveness:
till every storm assures us that we company with Thee:
and every move of light and shadow speaks of death and resurrection:
to assure us of your Infinite Peace
And Promise,
Thou creating, redeeming and sustaining God.
George MacLeod, Iona Community, adapted.