As a child the first prayer I learned was “Now I lay me down to sleep. If I die before I wake I pray my soul you will take.”

Thirty years later I know where my soul is going when the body and soul experience their great divorce. I have a new prayer that goes something like this.

Dear Lord, if I live before I die I hope you enjoyed this ride that I have called my life.

I loved one woman.

I know not perfectly but hopefully with the right passion. Every night I trust her within your hands and trust her to you when I wake again.

I have two children that have made my life a delight.

Even when there were times that my greatest fright was that my sins would mess them up and that I have screwed them up. I trust them in to your hands.

I have preached your word and you have used it even in my unfaithfulness. I trust whatever I said in to your hands. Thank you for that opportunity.

That’s about it. If I die before I wake thank you for being there for me.

If I live another day I hope I make you proud.

I look forward to meeting the Amen.