IN THIS TIME OF TRAGIC DIVISION AND DISAGREEMENT, MAY GOD GIVE ME THE GRACE, HUMILITY, COURAGE, WISDOM, AND LOVE
- to be more willing to listen and to learn;
- to be open to investigate even what I think is certain;
- to be more curious to research deeply;
- to be ready to learn from new ideas and unfamiliar voices;
- to be willing to admit when I am wrong and to change my mind;
- to be quick to say, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me. How can I make it right?”
- to be more able to accurately state the position of others BEFORE attempting to refute them;
- to be less certain that one side is all right and the other is all wrong;
- to be aware that I cannot be right about everything so I must keep searching for where I am wrong;
- to be careful about assuming my opponents are wrong about everything and to keep searching for where they are right;
- to be wise enough to recognize and admit the rights and wrongs which surely exist on both sides;
- to be slow to assume that those who disagree with me are bad people who have sinister motives;
- to be less foolish to believe that my words, more information, and debating will change closed minds;
- to be more patient with those whom I think have been deceived;
- to be strong for what I believe to be right without demeaning those who disagree;
- to be willing to be misunderstood, abused, and rejected if it is necessary to stand for truth and justice;
- to be able to speak truth without rancor or shaming;
- to be averse to giving unquestioning, uncritical, or blind support to anyone;
- to be opposed to giving my complete allegiance to anyone except Jesus;
- to be courageous while standing for and with those who are oppressed, abused, and marginalized;
- to be merciful and understanding with those who don’t have the information or experiences which have brought me to where I am;
- to be compassionate and patient with those who appear to be stubbornly closed-minded or unreasonable;
- to be respectful to those whom I do not believe are acting respectably;
- to be more loving even or especially with those with whom I disagree;
- to be kind even when it is necessary to speak truth without compromise;
- to be gracious while exposing error and wrong;
- to be continually asking God to show me where I am wrong;
- to be more diligent and careful in my study of the Holy Scriptures, especially the teachings of Jesus;
- to be open-minded and open-hearted so as to be teachable;
- to be earnestly praying for those with whom I agree and disagree;
- to be more dependent on God than on people;
- to be more eager and expectant for Jesus’ return and kingdom;
- to be more diligent to bring Jesus’ kingdom into every relationship, conversation, and endeavor.
