Blessed From The Past

In accord with the intentions of The Alternative Invocation for tomorrow's Inauguration, I have decided to post my own edited version of the classic prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. Since part of the objection to Rick Warren is his sectarian theocracy, I've dropped the more theurgical or denominational phrases, and I've substituted plural for singular since it speaks to a crowd. Voila:

Make us an instrument of peace;
where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, confidence;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
and it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

No time for more, since I've been summoned to jury duty tomorrow, and presumably won't even get to watch the events live.