The Little Boy and the Old Man

Misunderstanding and indifference have a tendency to plague the human condition. This is seen in "The Little Boy and The Old Man" by Shel Silverstein.

Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon." Said the old man, "I do that too." The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants." "I do that too," laughed the little old man. Said the little boy, "I often cry." The old man nodded, "So do I." "But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems Grown-ups don't pay attention to me." And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand. "I know what you mean," said the little old man.

Two things struck me about the little boy and the old man who feel unheard and ignored. First they strike up a unique relationship in the midst of the experiences that they share together. But second, and "worst of all", is how sad it can be when someone feels ignored and unheard. The plague of misunderstanding and indifference. Here is a prayer that I wrote that I hope would help me in those places where I tend to experience misunderstanding and/or indifference towards God and the people around me:

God, I need your help today

open my eyes to the places I have closed them

open my ears to the voices I stopped hearing

open my hands to the work I have grown tired doing

and open my mouth to bless where I've been cursing

move my body, move my Spirit, move my feet

and may I experience Unity with You and with others

in the hearing, the opening, and the moving, Amen.