Francis Drake

I’m more interested in the prayer attributed to Francis Drake (1540-1596) than with Francis himself.  While he is a fascinating figure of history, he represents a mixed bag in matters of faith.  His letters bear witness to genuine belief, yet his actions don’t always follow suit.  (This is not Francis’s problem alone!)  I recall from middle school history that Sir Francis Drake navigated the globe in an expedition sponsored by Queen Elizabeth. The one hundred seventy sailors in five ships that left England in 1577 thought they were embarking on a trading expedition. When they passed the southern tip of South America and entered the Pacific Ocean, the sailors realized they were on a far more ambitious project.  Three years later, a single ship survived and arrived in England, laden with treasure. Francis became rich and began a second career as mayor and member of British Parliament. There is no clear evidence the following prayer attributed to Francis originated with him.  He left little in writing, although a few personal letters bear resemblance to this prayer.  Just the same, the prayer fits his circumstances, especially the part about traveling “too close to shore” and the decision not “to venture on wider seas.”
As I read the prayer for God to disturb us, a quote from a Peter Dunne’s early twentieth century novel comes to mind, “The job of a newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” The same could be said of God who both comforts and afflicts us. We welcome God’s comfort, yet we resist when God confronts our self-indulgence.  There are times when the Spirit of God must trouble our conscience to correct wrong thinking and poor behavior.  God disturbs our lethargy and complacency. Otherwise, why would we ever change? God, disturb us when we sail too close to shore and play it safe: