Mark the blameless

   and behold the upright...

          Psalm 37. 37

(Who are those godly people

          in our lives?

May we seek them out.

Watch what they do,

observe their ways,

how they live,

how they respond

             differently,

how they worship God

      and love others.

What distinguishes

              their choices?

How do they navigate

   the hostile

      and the favorable?

And may we realize that

others are watching us

        as followers of Christ

not to see that we are perfect

     but that God is real.

Not that we never make mistakes

   but how we respond

                when we do.

Not that our lives are easier or harder

    but how we live it out

                    with God.)

O LORD,

Help us to seek out

those who love You

that they may teach us

     a different way of life.

Help us to

   not react to circumstances

   but choose to be faithful

                  to You.

May we be a witness

          of Your love and grace

as we walk side by side

with those You have

           placed in our lives

   to point them to You

as others have done

                  for us.