Penetrate these murky corners

where we hide our memories

and tendencies on which we do not care to look,

but which we will not yield freely up to you,

that you may purify and transmute them.

The persistent buried grudge,

the half-acknowledged enmity

which is still smouldering,

the bitterness of that loss

we have not turned into sacrifice,

the private comfort we cling to,

the secret fear of failure

which saps our initiative

and is really inverted pride,

the pessimism which is an insult to your joy.

Lord, we bring all these to you,

and we review them

with shame and penitence

in your steadfast light.