From the rising of the midwinter sun to its setting.
scatter the darkness with the light of your love, O shining One.
Make me short on mean thoughts,
long on offering words of comfort.
Make me short on being driven,
long on paying attention.
Make me short on focusing only on my own,
long on looking beyond.
Make me short on obsessive lists,
long on spontaneous acts of kindness.
Make me short on mindless activity,
long on time to reflect.
Make me short on tradition as habit,
long on re-discovery and re-owning.
Make me short on rushing and tiring,
long on walking and wondering.
Make me short on false festive jollity,
long on stilling and rooted joy.
Make me short on guilt,
long on being merciful to myself.
Make me short on being overwhelmed,
long on peaceableness as I set forth this day.
Tess Ward, Retreat leader and writing in the UK
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But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial and sincere.
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
prayer & verse 