Even if the life of a person has been a disaster,
even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else
—God is in this person’s life.
You can, you must try to seek God in every human life.
Though the life of a person is a land full of thorns and weeds,
there is always a space in which the good seed can grow.
You have to trust God.”
Help me find you, Lord,
in the person who really annoys me…
Help me find you
in the person who always disagrees with me…
Help me find you
in the person who judges me…
Help me find you
in the person who has betrayed me…
Help me find you
in the person who makes my life difficult…
Help me find you
in the person who just doesn’t like me…
Help me find you
in the person who won’t leave me alone…
Help me find you
in the person who won’t draw near…
Help me find you
in the person whose ways aren’t mine…
Help me find you
in the person who lies to me…
Help me find you
in the person who lies about me…
Help me find you
in the person who hurts my friend…
Help me find you
in the person who resents me…
Help me find you
in the person who cheats me…
Help me find you
in the person who refuses to help me…
Help me find you
in the person who won’t forgive me…
Help me find you
in the person whose prejudice offends me…
Help me find you
in the person who angers me…
Help me find you
in the person who turns me off…
Help me find you
in the person who ignores me…
Help me find you
in the person who disdains me…
Help me find you
in the person who tears things down…
Help me find you
in the person who doesn’t play fair…
Help me find you
in the person who has a grudge against me…
Help me find you
in the person who’s a mystery to me…
Help me find you in all of these, Lord:
help me sort through any thorns and weeds
to find what’s good, to reverence
your hidden presence…
And, Lord, when I annoy others,
when I’m disagreeable or judgmental,
when I betray or make trouble for others,
when I hurt or cheat or offend others,
when I don’t tell the truth,
when I tear down what others have built,
when I don’t play fair,
when I’m unforgiving or carry a grudge,
when I’m a big mystery to those around me,
then, Lord:
plant the seeds of your grace
among my own thorns and weeds
and bring to growth within me
a harvest of presence…
Amen.
