Birthday Prayer
Late on the night of your birthday,
long after the cake,
after the warm gifts,
after the dinner and the play,
after the celebration is done,
and everyone save you sleeps;
In the last hour of the night,
as you lay on the sheets,
and let the cool breeze brush your skin,
and you breath
the air fragrant with flowers
you cannot quite recognize,
aware you are living in a time and a place
that is not quite home,
yet not foreign,
in a life unexpected, unwished for,
yet gracious as only God can be,
full of promise and joy,
an adventure as unfamiliar
as the scents that waft on the air.
And you pray,
a new prayer of thanksgiving
in July.
===========
The picture was taken in the Episcopal Church in Wells, Vermont. You can click on it for a larger version.
Tom
Quarry House 
This one's beautiful, Tom. I love that last line, especially. Your birthday?
54 Friday, and counting!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, dear friend!! Hope you're enjoying the festivities! I'm right behind you. I turn 53 in October.
Happy happy birthday! May this year be especially blessed.
Belated Happy Birthday, Tom. I'm sure any unfamiliarity in your new life with soon be gone!
Life is always unexpected, I think, but usually wished for..happy wishes to you..this morning I stopped in at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest on 5th Av and 90th St., after my morning run..no one was there yet..a time I love.
It's nice to know that life is still full of good surprises no matter how many birthdays we're celebrating.
Happy Birthday, Tom!