Prayer for the 21st Century by Timothy Karoff

May there always be places quiet
And places to sit in the shade
May the grass not be too trampled
When we lay down our fists and our blades
May escapades and journeys await
Along with chapters unread
Stones unturned, ideas unlearned
And words waiting to be said

May we plan each step with great care
And keep our balance all the way
Fixing mistakes and cleaning up lakes;
The Earth isn’t ours to throw away.
May we not forget the trials behind us
And shake hands and stop keeping scores
And keep on growing and wondering;
In the end, perfection’s a bore.

May the trees stay wise above us
May the ground stay firm under our feet
May we learn to share strength and knowledge
And befriend each person we meet.
May we not lose sight of our morals
May we not forget the world’s needs
May we hold tight to questions unanswered
And plant firmly tomorrow’s seeds.