Here’s a prayer from my forthcoming book God of Here, There and Everywhere, due out sometime in the next few months. It reminds us that it takes all sorts to make a world, and we pass judgement on others at our peril.
Some people I like, Lord;
some I don’t.
Some I warm to;
others rub me up the wrong way.
Some bring me happiness;
some instead bring grief.
Some who are caring, considerate;
others seem to live only for themselves.
Some are attractive;
some less so.
Some are clever;
others seem foolish.
Some listen when I speak to them;
some simply talk over me.
Some feel completely on my wavelength;
others are poles apart.
Some are generous;
some are mean.
Some are thoughtful;
others insensitive.
Some share my faith;
some hold to others,
or are agnostics or atheists.
Some are black;
others are white.
Some are straight,
some are gay.
Some are right wing;
others on the left.
And so I could go on …
and on …
and on:
so many people,
so many contrasts,
everyone so very different,
yet they are all your children,
fashioned by your hand,
precious to you.
Who am I, for a moment, to pass judgement,
to condemn,
to assume I am right
and they are wrong?
Who am I to turn my prejudices into dogma,
my inclinations into narrow creed or doctrine?
You made not just me, Lord,
but everyone.
Help me to love them,
just as you do.
Amen.