When I was a wee sprite, this song played all the time on the radio, and even once or twice at church:

It’s just one brief (repeated) prayer,

Day by day
Day by day
Oh dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day

but woven into a tune that then flexes and builds until it breaks over like a glittering wave.

Because wee sprites automatically do this, I learned the song down into my muscle memory—the breaths of the performers, the hesitation and up-tempo of the percussion, the contrapuntal lines as the song crests. No doubt I danced over and over as I listened and sang—it’s not a tune to sit still to.

Because wee sprites do this, the habits of my faith—my connectedness with God—perennially circle back and tap their feet down upon: clearly, dearly, nearly | see, love, and follow. Because we’re made to sing as well as move as well as love, my small self learned to “do” her faith each day, every day.

Learned that God is there every day,
ready day by day to reach out, hold on,
sing along.