The Watch We Keep

The Daily Watch

A minute or two, alone or with whoever is near: when you wake, at midday, before you sleep, or once, whenever you can. There is no counting and nothing owed.

Be still. Stop whatever you are doing. Take a few slow breaths. Let the day's noise fall away for a moment, and remember that you belong to God, the way a wave belongs to the ocean.

Pray the prayer he taught. Say the Lord's Prayer, in the form you know, slowly enough to mean it.

Keep the watch. Before you go back to your day, say, quietly or in your heart:

Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.


That is all. A minute of stillness, the prayer he gave, and one eye kept on the road.