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You Surprised Me -
The Mystery of My Body
I want to talk to You about something
that I cannot ignore or entirely remake — my body.
My body has been a source of pleasure and pain,
of worry and pride,
a source of embarrassment and thrills.
Its incredible complexity
is something I take for granted —
until some little part bothers me.
I marvel when I hear
that the most complex part of Your creation
is my brain;
that my eyes are far more intricate
than all man-made marvels;
that the tiniest cell in my body
contains untold secrets;
that we have hardly begun
to understand how we are made.
I think of the pleasures I have experienced
through my body the taste of food, the beauty of nature,
the feel of things, the closeness of others;
gentle care and reassuring warmth;
and intimate tenderness without the need for words.
I think also
of the hungers and longings I have known—
the ache of parting, the fatigue after work,
the pain of illness and injury.
I recall my doubts and worries:
Do I look nice?
Am I attractive?
Am I too tall, too short, too fat,
too lean, too dark, too fair ... ?
Am I losing my charm as I age?
How will I face pain?
And the worry I seldom mention:
how will I die?
Creator and Friend,
everything in me speaks of Your wisdom and love.
Every fibre of my being in Your gift to me.
Nothing in me — or in others —is bad or ugly,
except for eyes without love.
There is no path to You except through my body,
no truth but what I grasp as a bodily being.
These hands that hold this paper,
these eyes, this face,
are the favoured sacraments of Your love,
a love that came to me first— and perhaps best —
through other bodies and mine:
my mother's breast,
hands that held me,
arms that sheltered me,
eyes that looked into mine,
lips that uttered words of love....
Teach us to reverence our body
and be responsible in its care.
May we never slight or reject anyone
because of their bodies.
May we love our body in all its seasons,
and lovingly nurture it as long as we can.
At last, when our earthly journey is over,
help us to let go of our body gracefully and gratefully,
to prepare for a union
closer than all bodily embraces,
for a life far fuller than the one we know.
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