morning light

O Lord and Maker of all things,
from whose creative power the first light came forth,
who didst look upon the world’s first morning and see that it was good,
I praise Thee for this light that now streams through my windows
to rouse me to the life of another day.

I praise Thee for the life that stirs within me
I praise Thee for the bright and beautiful world into which I go
I praise Thee for earth and sea and sky,
for scudding cloud and singing bird

I praise The for the work Thou hast given me to do
I praise Thee for all Thou hast given me to fill my leisure hours
I praise Thee for my friends
I praise Thee for music and books and good company and all pure pleasures

O Thou who Thyself art everlasting Mercy,
give me a tender heart towards those whom the morning light
brings less joy than it brings me:
Those in whom the pulse of life grows weak
Those who must lie abed through all the sunny hours
The blind, who are shut off from the light of day
The overworked, who have no joy of leisure
The unemployed, who have no joy of labour
The bereaved, whose hearts and homes are desolate
And grant The mercy on them all.

O Light that never fades,
as the light of day now streams through these windows and floods this room,
so let me open to Thee the windows of my heart,
so that my life may be filled with the radiance of Thy presence.
Let no corner of my being be unillumined by the light of Thy countenance.
Let there be nothing within me to darken the brightness of the day.
Let the Spirit of Him whose life was the light of men
rule within my heart till eventide.
Amen.

{Baille, Diary of a Private Prayer, Seventh Day, Morning, 1949}