The New Zealand Lord's Prayer

Last night as I was signing off my computer my husband mentioned that there had been a 6.1 earthquake. "Where?" I asked. "South Sandwich Islands," he said, "off the coast of Antarctica."  So of course, when I woke up this morning, visions of melting polar ice caps and global warming filled my head, and it became impossible to go back to sleep. He was downstairs eating breakfast, and when he came back to the room he laughed at my fears. "Maybe by the end of this century," he said. "Not to worry."

Easier said than done... But what came to me at that point was this wonderful version of the Lord's Prayer from the New Zealand Prayerbook. So I thought I'd illustrate it with this painting that came to me last week:

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. 
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth! 
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.