Reflection

“Do not be daunted by the world’s grief. Do justly now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” – Rabbi Rami Shapiro (paraphrasing the Mishnah)

Prayer

God of mercy and grace,

We are so often daunted by the magnitude of the problems we face. The gravity of the world’s pain weighs us down and can tempt us to despair. Strengthen our hearts today, that we might keep a proper perspective and do what we can. Help us remember that we are not obliged to save the whole world, all on our own. And when we feel like giving up, restore our compassion at least for the one before us right now. In this moment we pray, Amen.

Call to Action

Practice mindfulness as a discipline today, training my heart to stay in the moment, focusing strictly on the one person requiring my attention at any given point throughout the day.