The air is filled
with the voices
of those who want only
to hear themselves speak.
Lord, teach me to hold my tongue.
Our minds are filled
with thoughts of
our next response,
devastatingly witty,
sarcastic, and biting.
Lord, teach me instead to listen.
Our eyes search
for the one
in the group
whom we need to know;
the one that will
help us succeed,
get ahead, and prosper
in the eyes of the world.
Lord, draw me instead to those
who are forgotten and ignored.
A gentle tongue,
a generous ear,
and a welcoming heart,
create me anew
in the image of Christ.
Amen