a prayer

May we listen to each other, then speak, then listen.
May we know our hearts thoroughly that we may receive the wisdom of our peers and loved ones.
May we embrace the plurality of opinions, and engage each other with fierce attention.
May we fight with open hands and vigor, striving for a greater truth.
When the demons of our hearts arise, seeking to punish others for different views, seeking to ostracize the different and unfamiliar, seeking to erect brick walls against the force of an uncomfortable truth, may we hold these urgings with soft hands and still face our enemies with open eyes, open ears, and minds ready for dialogue.
May those who have been marginalized, oppressed, and made invisible be given their rightful place.
May those who have been elevated, privileged, and made grandiose accept their deflation with grace and understanding.
May we enter a time in which understanding and wisdom are valued more than righteousness.
May every voice be given its merit, may every being feel heard and valued.