Eli’s Prayer

Today most people are probably watching The Greatest Story Ever Told or maybe The Gospel of John or perhaps (for the less squeamish) The Passion of the Christ as an Easter movie. Me, I watched The Book of Eli [note: it does have an 'R' rating for a reason]. An odd choice for an Easter movie, to be sure, but the unwavering, Godly faith displayed just speaks such great volumes, at least to me. Like Eli, we have been gifted with God’s Word, and it should be our mission in life to share that Word with others. And to me, the concept of trusting in God’s promises, doing as He asks (no matter how impossible it might seem), placing our faith in Him to guide us in all things, and to “do for others more than we do for ourselves” are things that resonate with me every time I read the Bible.

The movie closes with a prayer from Eli, which I thought was a great prayer, so here it is:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for giving me the strength and the conviction to complete the task you entrusted to me.

Thank you for guiding me straight and true, through the many obstacles in my path. And for keeping me resolute when all around seemed lost.

Thank you for your protection and your many signs along the way.

Thank you for any good I may have done, I’m so sorry about the bad.

Thank you for the friend I made, please watch over her as you’ve watched over me.

Thank you for finally allowing me to rest, I’m so very tired. But I go now to my rest at peace, knowing that I have done right with my time on this earth. I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.

Amen.

Book of Eli © 2010 Warner Bros. Entertainment