I am the LORD

   your God.

      Leviticus 19

(This phase,

this reason,

this overlying purpose,

appears 16 times

in this chapter alone.

Why should we

    do this

    or not do that?

This is why:

Because God is God.

The LORD is

        our God.

And that makes

our daily choices,

our actions

        and responses,

the course of our lives

       radically different

because we love Him.)

O LORD,

You are our God.

And we are Your people.

Help us not just

         to act that way,

but to love others

  as we have been

  loved by You.

May Your Spirit

and our love for You

flow through us

like a mighty river

to all those on our paths,

our families, neighbors,

strangers,

and even those who

   don't like us very much.

Help us to love them back.

Even now.

Even in this.