Renewal: Making Peace

And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Leviticus 119-118

For remaining silent when a single voice would have made a difference

May we forgive ourselves and each other; may we begin again in love.

For each time our fears have made us rigid and inaccessible

May we forgive ourselves and each other; may we begin again in love. 

For each time that we have struck out in anger

May we forgive ourselves and each other; may we begin again in love.

For each time that our greed has blinded us to serving the needs of others

May we forgive ourselves and each other; may we begin again in love.


For losing sight of our unity

May we forgive ourselves and each other; may we begin again in love.

For those and so many acts evident and subtle which have fueled the illusion of our separateness

May we forgive ourselves and each other; may we begin again in love.

~

I hereby forgive whoever has hurt me;

Whoever has done me any wrong,

deliberately or by accident,

Whether by word or by deed.

May no one be punished on my account.

As I forgive and pardon fully

Those who have done me wrong,

I shall seek out those whom I have harmed

And ask them to forgive and pardon me

Whether I acted deliberately or by accident,

Whether by word or by deed.

May I not willfully repeat

The wrongs I have committed

May justice rule the world

Bring joy to the land, happiness to all

And renewed strength and light to all life.

~