Teach us to listen
To the silence posed by unanswerable questions
To the silence imposed by the rupture of safety
And to that most frightening silenceÂ
When we can no longer find youÂ
Anywhere
Help us to rememberÂ
When the memory is too distant
And when the memory is too fresh
When the memory is too painfulÂ
And when the memory is too dull
When the memory is too horrible
And when the memory is too mundane
And when we cannot remember,
Remember for us
Inspire us to act
With extraordinary courage in the midst of ordinary timesÂ
With ordinary goodness in the face of extraordinary crisis
And with unbounded imagination that dares to risk the possibility of hope.
Teach us, help us, and inspire us
To listen, to remember, and to act
And never to quit. Amen.
Used with permission from the author: Bruce Coriell, Chaplain at Colorado College
Featured in the book:Â We Ask Your Blessing: 100 Prayers for Campus Occasions
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