I bring this prayer to You, Lord,
For You alone can give
What one cannot demand from oneself.
Give me, Lord,
what You have left over,
Give me what no one ever asks
You for. I don’t ask You for rest;
Or quiet,
Whether of soul or body;
I don’t ask You for wealth,
Nor for success, nor even health perhaps.
That sort of thing You get asked for so much
That You can’t have any of it left.
Give me, Lord, what You have left over,
Give me what no one wants from You.
I want insecurity, strife,
And I want You to give me these
Once and for all.
So that I can be sure of having them always,
Since I shall not always have the courage
To ask You for them.
Give me, Lord, what You have left over,
Give me what others want nothing to do with.
But give me courage too,
And strength and faith;
For You alone can give
What one cannot demand from oneself.
Lieutenant Andre Zimhefd (t 19411 was a college philosophy professor before the Second World War in which he served in the British SA.S. This prayer was found on his body when he was killed in action in Libya.
