Gracious God, when the world seems particularly cruel and heartless, help us remember what we can do to change that. Crack open that part of us that listens with compassion. Empower the piece of us that knows how to embrace the other without judgment. Widen that bit of us that operates from a place of kindness. Help us, Holy One, be the change we wish to see in your world. In your abiding love, hear our prayer. Amen.