Talk about giving all you got at work.

Today at work we had a blood drive. I really didn't want to do it, but the lady from the marketing department talked me into it. It sure doesn't help that my blood type is only about 6% of the population. I haven't had the best luck when I've donated before. Once I passed out after leaving the blood bank on a hot day, once I got sick way later in the day and I needed my roommate to pick me up from school, and most times the inside of my veins get so bruised up and torn because they run at crazier angles than they will put the needle in. Today was good, they went for a deeper vein that was perfect for the job. Only minimal soreness : ) . My only issue was they were a little slow, and though I started the process at 12:15, I was finished at about 1:48. Oops. I was scheduled to start work at 1:00. It was for a good cause so as long as I wasn't going to get in trouble for it, I didn't mind. To my pleasant surprise, one of my supervisors told me that Thursday I will be able to make a time adjustment and be credited for my shift. Nice.
It was a good day. I had started out tired, having overslept the alarm for a while. After donating, I felt more alert and having more goodwill towards mankind. They must have taken all my tired, crabby blood. Pity the recipient if that is the case.
After work I finally made it to adoration, the first time in a long time. Hopefully I can stick with my commitment to make it at least once a week. Last year is was so much easier when I lived three blocks from the Newman house with their adoration room. Tonight I brought along a prayer book that our Sunday night youth group used to use and I stumbled across a prayer that I really like. It is the prayer for priests. A beautiful poem, a beautiful prayer.

A Prayer For Priests

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord.
Keep them, for they are Thine-
Thy priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world,
Through from the world apart;
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure, -
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember, Lord,
They have no one but Thee,
Yet they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.