Encountering the Other
"Rooted in Grace: Essays on Dialogue Without Division", Ed: Larry Duggins & Andrea Lingle, 2018.
For the child within you, we pray
For the heaviness within you that yearns to connect
For the grief that you carry
For the ways that you’ve tried
We give thanks
For the ways you’ve not listened
For the judgments you’ve leapt to
For assumptions you’ve made
We forgive you
You are here
You are still trying
We see you and hear you
Your fear echoes ours
Our hearts seek connection
Triggered, afraid
lenses color and filter our hearing
Together,
May we find at this table
a grace that helps us
Stand
Sit
Remain
Pray
And listen
May we be patient
have compassion for ourselves
We are here
We are trying
We are held in the infinite grace and mercy of
The God who abides
The Spirit who enlivens
The Jesus who forgives
Thank you for staying
Thank you for letting us hold this with you
May this space at the table knit us together