Our Father,

Thank you. Thank you for peace that passes understanding. Thank you for strength out of nowhere. Thank you for clarity of mind when my heart is at a loss. Thank you for London fogs and friends and gorgeous evening walks.

My heart aches tonight for my counterparts, close friends and acquaintances, scattered around the globe who are encountering homogenous culture for the first time in a really long time. We pray that we may approach these scary times with grace and learn to adapt and love without compromise, but setting aside our need to have the world on our terms. We pray that you bring the right people into our lives, people that challenge and frustrate, but also people who sit and listen, people who ask and people who recognize the value of who our lives have made us to be. We pray that you would give us oceans of grace and patience (which I sorely lack, let's be real). I pray that you would guard our hearts against distrust and cynicism.

My heart also aches tonight for my peers who have walked my path, the path of minimal romantic interest. Keep our hearts from bitterness and remind us daily why we are of value even when those who we hope are paying attention are not. Keep us centred in the knowledge and faith of you and set us free in your love to be our gloriously flawed and beautiful selves. Let us be more than the opinions of those who surround us. Let us be more than the voices in our head that question our worth. Let us be stronger and wiser and more compassionate and generous in view of our own journeys. Let us treat the dreams and hearts of others with care and selflessness.

And finally, for the piece of my heart that aches for home and family, give me courage to live with this grief. Give me the time and ability to spend time with my loved ones. Remind them in Your love that I also love them immeasurably. Protect them. Challenge them. And love them even when they wander or doubt. Keep us laughing. Keep us dancing. Keep us faithful to who we are and what we believe in.

In Jesus' name.

"Higher than the mountains that I face. Stronger than the power of the grave. Constant through the trial and the change. One thing remains. Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me."