Lines Scribbled on an Envelope While Riding the 104 Broadway Bus

Lot's of thoughts stirring in my head right now...I will be posting (soon) about the amazing chain of events that happened this weekend that proves to me (yet again) that God is so big and he cares so much about each and every one of us. It amazes me how he weaves us into the fabric of each other's lives in order to touch each of our hearts in a special way and in order to use us to touch others.
My uncle has been reading poetry to us each night (what a guy, huh?) and he read this one a few nights ago that I keep replaying over and over in my head...it really touched me and I wanted to share it...

Lines Scribbled on an Envelope While Riding the 104 Broadway Bus
By Madeline L'Engle

There is too much pain
I cannot understand
I cannot pray
I cannot pray for all the little ones with bellies bloated by starvation in India;
for all the angry Africans striving to be separate in a world struggling for wholeness;
for all the young Chinese men and women taught that hatred and killing are good and compassion evil;
or even all the frightened people in my own city looking for truth in pot or acid.

Here I am
and the ugly man with beery breath beside me reminds me that it is not my prayers that waken your concern, my Lord;
my prayers, my intercessions are not to ask for your love
for all your lost and lonely ones,
your sick and sinning souls,
but mine, my love, my acceptance of your love.
Your love for the woman sticking her umbrella and her expensive parcels into my ribs and snarling, "Why don't you wants where you are going?"
Your love for the long-haired, gum chewing boy who shoves the old lady aside to grab a seat,
Your love for me, too, too tired to look with love,
to tired to look at Love, at you, in every person on the bus.
Expand my love, Lord, so I can help to bear the pain,
help your love move my love into the tired prostitute with false eyelashes and bunioned feet,
the corrupt policeman with his hand open for graft,
the addict, the derelict, the woman in the mink coat and discontented mouth,
the high school girl with heavy books and frightened eyes.

Help me through these scandalous particulars
to understand
your love.

Help me to pray.