TOIL

From the Book of Common Prayer

O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life

we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep,

and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each

other's toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I AM REMINDED OF A WOMAN

ON A RETREAT

WHO SAID

I’M GOING AWAY FOR A WHOLE YEAR

TO DISCOVER MYSELF

BESIDE HER

WAS A WOMEN

A MOTHER OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN

WHO WAS THANKFUL

FOR THE FREE TIME ALONE

I’M REMINDED

THAT OFTEN THE MARYS

NEED A MARTHA

TO SUSTAIN THEM

I WAS IN A RESTAURANT

ENJOYING MY SABBATH REST

WAITED ON BY A LATINO

PROBABLY UNDERPAID

MAYBE TWO JOBS

HER SPIRITUAL LIFE

WAS PROBABLY

JESUS

HELP ME MAKE IT THOUGH THE DAY

THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

FOR MOST OF US

IS NOT NEAT AND PRETTY

BUT CATCH

AS CATCH CAN

JESUS REMEMBER ME

WHEN I CANNOT REMEMBER YOU

HELP US LORD

TO REMEMBER

OUR TOIL

HAS WORTH

AND DIGNITY

WE ARE THE NECESSARY LEAVEN

WITHOUT WHICH NOTHING

WE ARE THE BASKET OF FOOD

LIFTED TO THE TOWER

WHERE THE MONK PRAYS

FOR US ALL

FRANK A VOLLMER