Hope, grace, peace, love, forgiveness, compassion, empathy…all the beautiful words…all of the many beautiful concepts taught to us by religions and faith traditions around the world…but often they simply remain empty words and abstract concepts to us…but why??

Usually because we do not also practice and pray for willingness…a willing heart, a willing mind, a willing spirit…usually we are quite unwilling…

Am I truly willing to forgive my friend who hurt my feelings? Am I really willing to have empathy for my neighbor who practices a different faith tradition than my own – to see the world through their eyes? Am I truly willing to accept the gift of grace? Am I really willing to love others?

These are all extremely difficult things to do and to practice…and often we are simply unwilling to do them…usually because our hearts and minds are not prepared for the difficult work of willingness that these spiritual practices require.

I see us needing two main things to practice a willingness of being open-hearted and open-minded with those around us: forbearance (as a spiritual practice of patient self-restraint, self-control, and tolerance) and humility (as a spiritual practice of letting go of arrogance and control of others). These two crucial spiritual skills are absolutely necessary for us to move into a space of willingness.

Prayer of Willingness

– 5 minutes: breathe in, breathe out…breathe in, breathe out…

Today, o Lord, let my heart be open…let my mind be open…let my spirit be open…let me be willing…let me practice willingness…

I know this will be difficult for me…I know it will require vulnerability and also action on my part…give me the skills of forbearance and humility today…let me embody those so that I can practice being willing today…

I desire to be willing to be peace and grace and love today…

Amen.