Sometimes I want to hold on to a moment, other times I hurry through the moments.  It’s  hard to welcome and release each moment; to be fully present. Recently I learned about the Welcoming Prayer by Father Thomas Keating and have been practicing it each morning.

Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I welcome everything that comes to me today
because I know it’s for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,
situations, and conditions.
I let go of my desire for power and control.
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem,
approval and pleasure.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire to change any situation,
condition, person or myself.
I open to the love and presence of God and
God’s action within. Amen.

A moment ago hill and vale were alive with crimson and gold. The next moment begins. Welcome prayer helps me ease into the harder beauty of November. A  beautiful, simple and very, very hard prayer. Welcome Monday, welcome new week, welcome cold and snow, welcome dark days.