I know so many people who are waiting, Lord,
waiting and waiting and waiting for change...
People waiting for change in others,
in others who show no sign of change...
People waiting for change in their own hearts,
change for the good, for the better, for you...
People waiting for you, their Lord,
to change whatever they can't change themselves...
People waiting for change in our discourse:
how we speak, how we listen, how we come to the truth...
People just waiting for a change in the weather,
to sunshine or rain, depending on need...
People waiting for change in our nation,
for reason's defeat of chaos and violence...
People waiting for change in their marriage,
in their family, at work or at school...
People waiting for change in the Church,
Spirit inspired and true to the Gospel...
People awaiting a change for the poor,
for change in the ways we share the world's goods...
People waiting for great change to happen,
change to turn the world around right...
People waiting for an end to change,
for things to be stable, firm and secure...
We want all kinds of change, Lord:
usually we want it sooner than later
and more often than not we prefer that change come
at minimal cost to ourselves....
But change is hard and change comes slowly:
it disturbs, disrupts and rubs against the grain,
it comes at a price, it asks a lot,
though seldom not nearly as much as it gives...
Help us change what we need to change, Lord,
and open our hearts to all the ways
your Spirit moves within and among us,
changing our lives every day.
Lord, grant us the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change,
to change the things we can,
and the wisdom to know the difference...
Amen.
