The Fruits of Our Labor - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

We prayed together, to the creator,
the source of all we have,
offering “the fruit of our labor”;
but the words themselves were discordant
somehow not precisely what I believe
a worthy prayer, offering back to God;
but is there more? Something else to say?

We are offering that which we “earned”,
hmm, but what does “to earn” mean itself?
What are the fruits of our labors truly?
When does the fruit stop being the Lord’s
When do we earn anything? Isn’t all of our all,
our lives, our work, our wealth, our poverty,
our living, our dying, all a gift of God?

Maybe, just maybe, our prayer should change;
maybe we should pray that we offer to You,
our loving, creator, sustainer God, a mere portion
a small measure,
a pittance of that which you have given us
through our works,
our living out of our working lives
through the gift of the job, the position, the career
you have called us to, at this time in our lives

That we offer to you a small part of that which
You have so abundantly blessed us.
Not the fruits of our labor, but a piece of the harvest
of the daily bread which You alone have provided
a bit of the loaves, the fishes, so that we may add
to the basket from which you bless and break
and share with the whole world, Your ministry of love
to the ends of the earth, and the end of the age

October 12, 2008
Offertory, Prayer of Dedication
Suncook United Methodist Church