Offering of one's senses

Lord,
 sometimes I have a hard time finding something to pray about,
  yet the reasons to give you thanks are not lacking.

Aren't there young people whose life's wish is found in these words:
 "God, I wish I could see!" or
 "Lord, I wish I could hear!"

Yet, Lord, I who see, hear, speak with such ease,
 often forget to thank You for these gifts which I take for granted.

Today, I thank you for my eyes which see light, colors,
 and the faces of those who love me.

I thank you for my hearing which allows me to enjoy people's voice
 and music.

I thank you for my voice which allows me to express my thoughts and
 innermost feelings.

I thank you also for the sense of smell, and the sense of touch ....

Lord, you have given me the senses.  I now offer them back to You.
 Help me to use my senses sensibly,

to see your beauty in the beauty of human faces and bodies,
 of flowers and rainbows, of nature and art;

to use my eyes to read what will enrich my mind, ennoble my soul;

to use my ears to listen to your Word
 and to what philosophers and scientists have to say
  about the mysteries of man,
   of the universe, of creation,
 so that I may better understand myself,
  others, and You, the Creator of all things
   seen and unseen, known and unknowable;

  about the past and the present,
   so that I may better understand myself, others, and You;

to use my voice to proclaim the truth and to spread the joy around me.

Amen.

Translated and adapted from French by Dr. Chau T. Phan, Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648-3099, from Fernand Lelotte, S.J. Rabboni: Consignes et prieres pour mieux servir, 9e edition, 1958 (Paris, Casterman; Bruxelles, Foyer Notre-Dame. Imprimatur, 1955.)

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