Do all things

   without grumbling or questioning,

that you may be blameless

                      and innocent,

children of God without blemish

in the midst of a crooked

                 and twisted generation,

among whom you shine

            as lights in the world...

                Philippians 2. 14-15

(We live in such a broken world

    that even not complaining

reveals that there is something

      different about our hearts.

How we respond in all things

   can point others to God.

Not in a Pollyanna kind of way,

     "just look on the bright side,"

but the sheer reality

  of Whom we stake our hope.

This life is not all there is.

God is using even this.

And Jesus is walking with us

             through it.)

O LORD,

Help us to change our triggers

    from despair and complaining

to hope and grace and

     the reality of Your Presence.

Help us to realize that

          a bad-itude

distracts not just others from You

         but us.

May we go forth into our day

   abiding with You.

And in all appearances,

that should look

             radically different.