Lift up your heads and see: Your redemption is at hand!

Any of you out there at all like me?  Shopping for Christmas presents today at the last minute.  Wondering where you'll get the time to do whatever it is you need to do to get "done."  Well, in that vein, Advent was a good idea this year, but it didn't happen in the way I wanted it to, to be honest.

So, I would simply like to pray for all of us procrastinators that Christ be present to me, to us, while we come to the end of a fairly exhausting season.  Would that it were not so!  But, here's a prayer for us.  The rest of you can gloat!

I'm adapting the Prayer of St. Patrick for these purposes.  You can add your own as you go.  So, Go with God.

Christ beside me, when I am beside myself with anxious care.
Christ before me, when I have run so fast that I "get ahead of myself."
Christ behind me, since I am behind in everything I do these days.
Christ in me, since I am too busy to be present to myself.
Christ beneath me, as I hustle along the paths of life today.

Christ above me, calling my name gently.
Christ on my right, walking along the same paths.
Christ on my left, pointing the way.

Christ when I lie down, and hope to sleep in spite of anxious thoughts.
Christ when I sit down, and put up my feet to rest the dogs.

Christ when I arise, and respond to those many 'needs' "out there."
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, especially with forgiveness.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, especially with kindness.
Christ in the eye that sees me, and blesses me.
Christ in the ear that hears me, and welcomes me.

Happy last days of Advent.
Merry Christmas!