The Best Beginning to My Day

How to begin a day—knowing its potential uncertainties, and dreaming about the possibilities? 

The Book of Common Prayer includes a wonderfully simple entreaty. I’ve been saying it as the day gets going. I’ve read it so often that I can recite it without it in front of me. It’s ancient, with the outline traceable to prayers printed centuries ago. But I get struck all the time with how full of meaning it seems for this instant’s ambiguities.

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

As great as it is to begin a day, sometimes I will say it during the thick of the afternoon, or even day’s end, changing a word: 

You have brought us in safety through this new day.