Here’s a Prayer for all those who collapse

at the end

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Who are just holding it together

Somehow

Til the end of the Day

And then lose it

When they get in the door

Or are asked to do a thing

Or have to leave their comfort zone/thing/activity

Here are for those for whom the “Simple” tasks are not easy

Socializing

Being Organized

Paying Attention

Meeting People’s Eyes

Going Outside

Sensory Overload

New Things

Exposure

All the Things the one has to Weather

Here is a prayer for those whose bodies react

with twitches, or sleep disturbance, or accidents

migraines or other body aches

This is a prayer for those who have to acclimate

to this STRANGE thing everyone else calls the norm

I want to tell you, God thinks you are beautiful

and perfect, exactly as you are

and I hope you are safe

and beloved–and you have spots of sanctuary

moments of hope

and experiences of full self

Here’s a prayer for those who experience after school restraint collapse

Like ripe apples or rainbows of leaves in the fall

or tacos that are too full of good things to eat

or cake that is overfull of icing and sprinkles–

We all fall apart sometimes,

Jesus wept,

and ran away

and napped on a boat

and cursed a fig tree.

And went alone to a garden to pray–

but asked his disciples to body double him while he was there.

Here’s a prayer for all of us who collapse, because we are overloaded

May we, like Jesus, rage or weep or pray or rest.

Whenever we need to, and find what we need along the way God.

We pray this in the name of your Counselor and Comforter the Holy Spirit–

Amen.

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Rev. Katy Stenta is the pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree in Creative Writing and Public Theology from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. This poem was originally published on her blog.