I told a friend about my mantra verse for all these years of working in poverty: Matthew 10:16 where Jesus is teaching the disciples before sending them out. He says, “Be ye wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” My friend asked if I thought that innocence was something that once was lost could never be reclaimed.

I said, “No, not generally. I think innocence is living with wonder and expectation. It’s being not jaded by the world.” My friend agreed.

This is my prayer for all of us:

“Holy Spirit, help us always to live with both innocence and wisdom. Innocence for being open to relationships with others; innocence for always seeing the possibilities; innocence for living in expectation; innocence for joy and love and hope.  We seek wisdom for knowing intuitively how to approach people and how to respond; wisdom to be street smart; wisdom to know when to attack, when to retreat, and when to remain steady; and wisdom to discern our path.

Help each of us to be innocent and wise. Amen