It was a little kid who said it 
     as he marched in from a backyard battle: 
          “Life would be so good, if it weren’t for people!”

I guess that put his thoughts squarely in focus. 
     Creation is nicely set up. 
     The sun rises and sets.  
     The seasons are right on schedule.  

But it’s people who lift you into your greatest dreams,  
     and who bring your biggest disappointments.

So, 
     is finding life-long and unconditional love worth it 
          if only a few people can love you that much?  

     Is their love cancelled out by other people 
          who will never love you like that?  

     Or should we, 
          like that little kid, 
               learn that you can trust some people more than others.

Lord,
I want the formula.

How do I know which people will love me?
     And which people will fail me?
Who should I love?
     And who should I avoid?


When I look at your life in the Gospel,
     I see that some of your closest friends failed you too.
     So your friendships weren’t so perfect either

And yet you loved your friends, even your enemies,
                              and forgave them.

Lord, maybe you can show me that life brings all kinds of people together.  
But only love tested by hurt and disappointment will bring meaning to our relationships.

You have showed me by example how to love those who hurt me.
It’s not the easy formula I wanted.
But it is the one I needed.

Now I know I can be around all kinds of other people.
Most of them may never love me like you do.
But then they don’t have to.
I’ve had you as my friend all along.