G. K. Chesterton (1864-1936) was a funny, absent-minded writer who liked to write in train stations. It was not uncommon for G.K. to become so engrossed in his compositions that he would miss the train he was supposed to catch. On one such occasion, he became so disoriented at the train station that he wired his wife, “Am in Market Harborough. Where ought I to be?” She sent back a terse one-word reply, “Home!”
G.K.’s genius as a writer has gone underappreciated in our day, given his penchant to write about religious themes. He said, “It is a test of good religion whether you are able to joke about it.” Religious people like us often take ourselves too seriously. We walk a fine line between taking God seriously but not taking ourselves too seriously. We have much to learn from G.K. in this regard. He writes, “Seriousness is not a virtue…It is easy to be serious, it is hard to be frivolous.” His books, weekly newspaper columns and poems are filled with imaginative wit and good humor. He is considered “The prince of paradox.” If you doubt what I’m saying, check out his well-known quotes on the internet.
Today’s prayer is a traditional mealtime prayer regularly prayed in G.K. Chesterton’s home followed by his poem, “A Grace” that urges us to expand praying for God’s grace through the day: