The old order changeth ?

  I have been so weary in mind these past days and weeks. Nothing I thought to put in the blog satisfied me. I wanted to write something humorous, or a vignette. More inspirational thoughts on liturgy or complaints about our current national situation - nothing prompted me to share. Actually what is happening in our world is too overwhelming. I could write volumes, just for catharsis!

  Once again, when I feel like this I turn to poetry. A page opens up and there is something that speaks to my mood.  The following is from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "Morte d'Arthur.  Sir Bedivere is distressed. Arthur is sorely wounded, has been placed on a barge at his request and is to be pushed off on his lonely journey.

                                                     **************************

   Then loudly cried the bold Sir Bedivere,
"Ah! my Lord Arthur, whither shall I go?
Where shall I hide my forehead and my eyes?
For now I see the true old times are dead,
When every morning  brought a noble chance,
Such times have been not since the light that led
The holy Elders with the gift of myrrh.
But now the whole Round Table is dissolved
And I, the last, go forth companionless,
And the days darken round me, and the years,
Among new men, strange faces other minds."

   And slowly answered Arthur from the barge,
"The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulfills Himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.
Comfort thyself: what comfort is in  me?
I have lived my life, and that which I have done
May He within Himself make pure! but thou,
If thou shouldst never see my face again,
Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.........."

                                          ********************************88

I feel somewhat like Sir Bedivere, not wholly companionless, but, with what seems at times joined by a minority of like-minds, left to struggle through dark days. Our country might be Arthur. If the "old order changeth," the order which founded this country, then perhaps God "fulfills Himself in many ways," by punishing us. It isn't because that "one good custom" was corrupting the world, but because we, as a nation, have abandoned the best of our country's virtue and promise.  "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." At this point in our national history, besides using the power of our vote, prayer for the soul of our nation and for the salvation of our way of life is a true necessity.

A "Prayer to Save America" is one that I have emailed to people at some time.  I say it every day.

                               O merciful God, we cry to Thee for pardon and for mercy.
                               We are an unbelieving and perverse generation.
                               We are disobedient, disloyal and ungrateful to Thee.
                               We have excluded Thee from our homes, our schools, our places of business..
                               We are no longer to be called They children.
                               Merciful Father, spare America.  Forgive us!
                               Save us from the scourge we deserve.
                               Teach us Thy law, and move our wills to serve Thee today and every day.
                               Merciful God, please spare America!

And a prayer for the world's leaders:

      O God, who corrects the erring and Who conserves what is in danger, and Who treasures the truths of life; we beseech Thee in Thy mercy, especially in these times of confusions and unrest, to bestow upon the minds and hearts of leaders of men amongst the nations of the world, the supreme grace of thinking and acting with Thee and in accordance with They inspiration.

   We pray that, guided by Thy divine wisdom, governments may preserve attachment to Thee, the true Shepherd of mankind and that they may render in their decisions the justice and charity which will insure peace to all men, through Christ our Lord. Amen

                                                  *****************************