Poem May 29, 1989 ISSUE

Compassion on the road from Jerusalem

Nancy L. Holder

Father, teach me to reflect Your mercy, to prayunderstandingly. I know so many words and saythem often, hoping they'll help someone, somewhere.But teach me how to come nearto reach them where they are.Don't let me be blindedby judging them difficult, bad-tempered, hardso I can't see how deep their longing to be understood.

It's there, in the dustof past failures, of charisma gone sour,of trust in some thieving powerthat's stripped them of self-confidence; right thereis where binding-up is needed—the shared cup of understanding, the warmword of appreciation that's balmto wounded sensibilities.

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