Do not say,

I will do to him

   as he has done to me;

I will pay the man back

    for what he has done.

                 Proverbs 24. 29

(God's way always 

     seeks reconciliation,

                  not revenge,

radically countercultural then,

totally countercultural now.

May we seek to forgive and extend grace

      for what has been done to us.

                           Even in this.

May we seek to pay forward intentionally

      for what can be.

God's fundamental law of responding to others

       instead of reacting to them:

"In everything, do to others

what you would have them

          do to you." 

                     Matthew 7. 12

The Golden Rule is not an ethical precept,

nor a religious mandate,

      but a heart condition.)

O LORD,

Help us to see and respond

     with different hearts.

Align our hearts with Yours

even when others are

           against us.

May we embrace others

     as You embrace them.

Forgive our trespasses

     as we forgive those

     who have trespassed against us.

We are all in need of Your love.

We all mess up.

Guide our actions

            and attitudes

that we may bring You honor

and You may bring

         Your healing to this.