O Compassionate One–
I pray for a compassionate heart.
I pray for a heart that is willing to expand with your compassion, with your love.
I pray for a set of compassionate eyes that see what your eyes see.
I pray for a set of compassionate ears that hear what your ears hear.
O Compassionate One–
I pray for a heart that is gentle with myself when I fail to be compassionate–because I will fail. I will stumble.
Help me to extend the same compassion toward myself that I want to offer others.
O Compassionate One–
I pray for a heart that is bold enough to seek reconciliation with those whom I have hurt, harmed or dismissed.
Help me to understand, to know (bone deep knowing) that to live compassionately toward others means living at peace with them.
O Compassionate One–
I pray for a heart willing to extend compassion to those who annoy me, infuriate me, enrage me.
Help me to see these people as your children, worthy of your love and compassion and therefore deserving of my love and compassion.
O Compassionate One–
I pray that my desire and my attempts to live compassionately (to be compassionate) will encourage others to be compassionate–one by one by
one–until our world is filled with compassionate people, filled with people who have your compassionate heart pulsing through us. Amen.
(An earlier version of this prayer was published in Peace Signs, January 2006)
Thank you for this beautiful prayer. I wonder what the world would be like if we all lifted it up to God and sought to intentionally live this compassionate peace.
Thanks Michael–I like to think a world filled with compassion is shalom.
This is beautiful, June, so glad to see you embarking on this beautiful blogging adventure!
Thank you Tess! It does feel like an adventure!!
June….What took you so long? I will look forward to the pearls that proceed from your brain. Grace & Peace – Tudor
Well Tudor…fear of disapproval, snarky comments, etc. And, believe it or not, a smidge of shyness! 😉
Looking forward to your insights!
Thanks girlfriend! Blessings as you move.
Wow! may we use this in worship some week? I’ll ask again when the time is right!
This blog is so cool! As are the retreats you are offering at the Hermitage!
You are living your call. Very courageous! You are a witness to me.