I Am Small

                              in all Your awesome greatness,

                              I am small.

                              When I look at Your wonderful works,

                              The works of my own small hands

                              Seem little more than dust

                              Falling to the ground.

                              If praying is seeing and being seen,

                              I feel transparent.

                              When I see You,

                              I am ashamed by what You see.

                              I am small, I'm dust, I am ashamed.

                              But something else Lord,

                              I hope You see.

                              It's not myself,

                              or who I think I am

                              For I am small;

                              only a man,

                              dust and ashamed.

                              But hope of hope and in all my hope

                              I pray You see desire.

                              And what is my desire?

                              Lord, You know.

                              It's for a heart like Yours;

                              No longer ashamed to be called a man;

                              Just happy with the image You created;

                              So that when You look at me,

                              You see Thee.

Hugh K Lipsius      Printed with author’s permission