Distracted

Our Father who art in heaven (Calm and quiet)

Hallowed be thy name (Loud enough to make people sit up)

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. (Normal)

On earth (Loud)

As it is in heaven (rushed and quiet)

Give us this day our daily bread.

And our roast beef with crispy roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, a bit of veg and loads and loads of gravy. Perhaps apple pie and custard for afters. (Stops, thinks, remembers he should be praying). Sorry – I'm distracted.

I meant , Give us this day our daily BREAD.

But I need more than bread. Give us our houses, warm and comfy. And a flash car with air con, gotta have that. Don’t want to open the windows. (Looks up to God). You know what I saw the other day Lord, I saw a car that could…(stops, bows head again) DISTRACTED!

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us, our distractions, our toys and things to play with, an Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo. A decent tablet with loads of apps. I could spend hours just …. Gadget, tut! (looks up hopefully!) I could use them to read the Bible (Bows head again)

Give us this day our daily bread.

(Absently picks up a book) And our books and videos, our sitting down to read the paper or watch the telly. (Stops again. Shakes head. Puts down book. Determined look on your face now)

(States firmly) Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our things that distract us. Just like I keep getting distracted. All the time. Not just now in this prayer but all the time. Our hobbies football, golf, bowls, train spotting, bird watching, model making, my collection of rice pudding skins dating from 1950 to the present day. It’s fascinating how the colour and texture have……changed……Arrgghh! I’ve done it again!

(Step forward - Shouting)

Give us this day our daily bread. Bread. BREAD! Give us this day our daily bread.

(Quieter) Bread. Jesus – you are the Bread of life. Give us this day our daily Bread. Give us You. Lord Jesus give us You - daily. All these distractions in our world. When we should ask - Give us the Bread of Life.

(Pauses to draw breath deeply and obviously).

Give us You. Help us to remember Whoever comes to You will never go hungry, and whoever believes in You will never be thirsty. Lord help us to understand what this means.

Lord forgive our trespasses. Oh yes Lord forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us.

Whoever comes to You, the Bread of Life, You will never drive away. Trespasses are forgiven. For you came down from heaven not to do your will but to do the will of Him who sent You. And this is the will of Him who sent You, that You shall lose none of all those He has given You, but raise them up at the last day. (Pause, deep breath)

And lead us not into temptation. And deliver us from evil.

The tempting evil  of distraction - When there is so much of it about. Do not lead us there. When we can find our way there perfectly well on our own. Please give us the strength and the courage to resist. As you have done today - deliver us.

(Triumphant) For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory.

Forever

AMEN