Empower Me

Empower me to be a bold participant,
rather than a timid saint in waiting,
in the difficult ordinariness of now;
to exercise the authority of honesty,
rather than to defer to power,
or deceive to get it;
to influence someone for justice,
rather than impress anyone for gain;
and,
by grace,
to find treasures of joy,
of friendship,
of peace,
hidden in fields of the daily you give me to plow.

A reading by Ted Loder from 'A Grateful Heart"