A long journey begins for us, Lord,
and we do not like what drags on,
we know too well how habits and weariness catch up with us.
Lighten us of all that weighs down our walk,
lead us towards that simplicity of heart,
that fallow ground of the soul that ‘pursues neither grand designs nor wonders beyond our reach’
(Ps 130) but unifies our desire and enables us to find our joy in You,
God, always waiting for our presence.