daily bread

today was interesting...

it started out slow, not getting enough sleep from the night before...i just laid in bed while my roommate got ready for class. i was thinking what a beautiful day was about to unfold. i knew the vigil would be later on that day...and before that would be chapel and a midterm. i just laid there praying for strength and wisdom...for forgiveness because i hadn't studied enough...and for humility because the vigil, as beautiful as it was, was to be a silent witness, not a chance for more acclaim.

class went well. chapel was nice. the midterm wasn't as brutal as i thought. and then the news came that someone had stolen both me and my roommate's laptops...and some. it was surreal. someone was in our room? someone looked through my stuff and took my things? but thank you Lord for my roommate...i took my cue from her, that while this chaos was ensuing, she provided the calm. reminding me that we still have our health and are blessed far more than what we need, my roommate lent me some of her gentle spirit and got me through what could have been an awful day.

my attention was refocused on the all saints day service and as the sun set, the luminaries grew with intensity and forced me to keep my thoughts on the real issues at hand. i felt God's presence in the midst of a mixed crowd of neighbors, students and faculty reciting a litany in which every phrase carried weight yet, extended hope.

in one of the oldest prayers i know, we ask God for daily bread...not for bread to last for the next six months...not for the next six years...but for strength, guidance and mercy on a day to day basis. with all the ups and downs this day brought, i thank God for the daily bread given to handle it all.