Thank God For Sex

I just read 400 pages on premarital counseling this morning (OK, I skimmed part of it). In one of my books I found this old prayer/poem by Harry Hollis, Jr. I like it because it presents a different view from that which we get bombarded with in the media. Hope you like it:


Lord, it's hard to know what sex really is -
Is it some demon put here to torment me?
Or some delicious seducer from reality?
It is neither of these, Lord.

I know what sex is -
It is body and spirit,
It is passion and tenderness,
It is strong embrace and gentle hand-holding,
It is open nakedness and hidden mystery,
It is joyful tears on honeymoon faces, and
It is tears on wrinkled faces at a golden
wedding anniversary.

Sex is a quiet look across the room,
a love note on a pillow,
a rose laid on a breakfast plate,
laughter in the night.

Sex is life - not all of life -
but wrapped up in the meaning of life.

Sex is your good gift, O God,
To enrich life,
To continue this race,
To communicate,
To show me who I am,
To reveal my mate,
To cleanse through "one flesh."

Lord, some people say
sex and religion don't mix;
But your Word says sex is good.
Help me to keep it good in my life.
Help me to be open about sex
And still protect its mystery.
Help me to see that sex
Is neither demon nor deity.
Help me not climb into a fantasy world
Of imaginary sexual partners;
Keep me in the real world
To love the people you have created.

Teach me that my soul does not have to frown at sex
for me to be a Christian.
It's hard for many people to say, "Thank God for sex!"
Because for them sex is more a problem then a gift.
They need to know that sex and gospel can be linked together again.
They need to hear the good news about sex.
Show me how I can help them.

Thank you Lord for making me a sexual being.
Thank you for showing me how to treat others
with trust and love.
Thank you for letting me talk to you about sex.
Thank you that I feel free to say:
"Thank God for sex!"

Amen.