HEARING BETTER VOICES

WE MAKE A PAUSE
     AMID MANY VOICES---
         SOME INNOCENT AND SOME SEDUCTIVE,
         SOME VIOLENT AND SMOE COERCIVE,
         SOME FORGIVEN AND GENUINE,
         SOME NOT.

AMID THIS CACOPHONY THAT PULLS US
         IN MANY DIRECTIONS,
    WE HAVE THESE OLD VOICES OF YOUR PROPHETS;
     THESE VOICES ATTEST TO
         YOUR FIERCE SELF,
         YOUR SEVERE SUMMONS,
         YOUR GENEROUS PROMISE,
         YOUR ABIDING PRESENCE.

GIVE US GOOD EARS,
    PERCHANCE YOU HAVE A WORD FOR US TONIGHT;
GIVE US GRACE AND COURAGE TO LISTEN,
                                                             TO ANSWER,
                                                             TO CARE,
                                                              AND TO REJOICE,
    THAT WE MAY BE MORE FULLY YOUR PEOPLE.

Prayers for a Privileged People, Walter Brueggemann