Word lovers (or should that be pedants), particularly those like me who spend much of their time editing, often emphasise the importance of punctuation. The humble comma is a case in point. It may seem small, but it can be vitally important in communicating meaning. Take for example the two sentences ‘Let’s eat, Grandma’ and ‘Let’s eat Grandma.’ There’s a world of difference between the two! That little pause indicated by the comma is key. I used that idea as the springboard for the following reflective prayer, taken from my book Touching the Seasons, which emphasises that we all sometimes need to take a pause for breath, whether in life or in faith.
The comma
Who’d have thought it –
something as small as a comma
making such a difference?
But it did,
the sentence making little sense without it.
It indicated a pause for breath,
small but vital;
that little break key to the whole.
Remind me, Lord, that I need to pause sometimes
if I’m to make sense of life;
time to stop and stare essential
if I’m to keep things in balance
and live as you intend.
In the many demands and duties I face each day,
teach me to make space for stillness and quiet –
space for me and you.
Amen.