by Kathie England

How Do We Want to Live?

Throughout this year I have continued to find inspiration and solace in the On Being podcast by Krista Tippett. This podcast (www.OnBeing.org) explores what it means to be human. It asks: How do we want to live? Who will we be to each other?

The On Being podcast has inspired me to translate the Prayer of St. Francis, the Prayer of Peace, into a loving kindness meditation with the goal that this meditation is more inclusive and might connect with individuals of diverse beliefs and cultures.

For the past two years I have shared the Prayer of St. Francis in its original form as my December post. I share my new version with the hope that it will provide perspective – on the past year and the year ahead as we begin the third decade of this century.

I hope the monthly posts of My 1000 Small Steps have offered examples of small steps we can consider to answer those questions asked by the On Being podcast: How do we want to live? Who will we be to each other?

May this Loving Kindness Meditation inspire us to what is possible!

Make me an instrument of peace.

  • Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
  • Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
  • Where there is discord, let me bring union.
  • Where there is error, let me bring truth.
  • Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
  • Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
  • Where there is darkness, let me ,bring light.
  • Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.

May I not seek as much to be consoled, as to console.

May I seek not as much to be understood, as to understand.

May I seek not as much to be loved, as to love.

May it be in giving that I learn to receive.

May it be in pardoning that I allow myself to be pardoned.

May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be at peace.

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be at peace.

May we embrace this message to help us find the courage to take many small steps in 2020!