new year prayer

i was sent this great prayer by my friend marlena. we are praying it as a communal benediction over the next few weeks in our worship gathering. try it on for size.

Father God,
enable us,
by your grace and empowerment,
to become . . .
expanders of life,
scatterers of laughter,
singers of songs,
makers of peace,
spreaders of good news,
healers of wounds,
tellers of truth,
practitioners of mercy,
sharers of joy,
weavers of community,
walkers in humility,
fulfillers of your dreams for us
spun in Jesus, our brother and Lord. Amen.

(from My Heart in My Mouth: Prayers for our Lives by Ted Loder)