I believe we should always be in a right kind and right amount of trouble or danger. The classic Christian cycle at the beginning of anythinga day, a year, a new chapter in lifeis taking stock through prayer. Prayer I'm defining here as some kind of inner dialogue. One of the foolish things about resolutions is that people feel compelled to tell everybody about them. One of the great things about prayer is that you tell no one except yourself and God.
Prayer is an inner dialogue of confession, thanksgiv ing, andthis is keyopenness.
Most of you will recognize this prayer that I have cobbled together. I have not loved my neighbors as myself. Have mercy and forgive me, that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways. I give thanks for life and all its dangerous opportunities, for all the gifts you have given me. It is the only place in any Anglican prayer book I know where there is a whole page of prayers written in the first-person singular.