a blessing for holding heavy news

may we know when to speak

and when to be silent;

when to call for peace

and when to turn plowshares into something less peaceful;

when to lament

and when to rest

and when to get up and go to work

and for what cause.

may we bear witness to the stories

of our fellow humans

with holy tenderness; holy grief; holy anger.

may we lend hope to those who have not the strength to hold it.

may we look across the world

and across the table

and refuse to see on any face

any countenance less than the imago dei.