Dear God, the terror I feel as I anticipate the day’s events is out of all proportion to reality.

I fear I will be assailed – in truth I rarely am ever even gently rebuked. I fear I will be frantically busy – in truth my duties are always manageable. I fear I will not know what to say or do – in truth, Lord, you have ever guided me.

God, let me see the reality of my day through this haze of worry. My fears are the workings of pride: by over dramatizing my fears I apear to myself more important than I am. These feared outcomes are the pretend catastrophes of a tragic figure.

Lord, let this drama slip away. Let my day be one of simple work, loving effort. Let the simplicity of the day drip like honey over these churning emotions, soothing my thinking and attitudes. Take away the pride makes me see my life as dramatic, let it be replaced by the simple desire to do your will.

(Letter #1404)

Dear God, I come to you, draw near to you, seek you. Some days with single purpose, some days grudgingly, some days distracted. There you always are, and if I but make the effort, you draw near to me in return.

Even in my least worshipful states, full of self and bile, yet you love me enough to be a balm. If only I seek.

Let me draw near to you today, dear Lord.

(Letter #1403)

Dear God, in the quiet and dark hours, before dawn, I sit. I ready myself to greet this day. My attitude has not yet formed. Am I eager, or filled with dread? Joyous or weary?

This uncertainty is potential. The path of the day will be set by my own internal attitude. Yet I cling to the illusion that my feelings arise out of conditions. In this way I hobble myself.

Lord, let me see the truth: I can stand erect whenever I please. Let me not crawl today.

(Letter #1402)

Dear God, I wait and I wait for conditions to improve, for joy to arrive, to become fulfilled, to succeed. I judge each dawn by these measures – Will today be the day? I wonder as I reflect.

Lord: let me live today knowing that all my dreams have already come true. I have but to recognize how.

I have already succeeded, I am already fulfilled, I already have joy. You have made me perfectly suited to these conditions, here and now.

I was made for this day, O Lord. Let me run towards it, laughing with abandon.

(Letter #1401)