Close to Home

Eternal God, I am thinking tonight of people who are long-time justice workers who are not at the forefront of the most visible struggles of the day. Some of them are unable to be as active as they would like because they are tending to pressing matters close to home, like caring for a child, grieving a loss, dealing with illness, or making ends meet. Others have been steadily living compassion for years, in ways that are rarely in the news. Chaplains, counselors, anti-poverty activists, peace-makers of many kinds. God, please pour a steady rain of grace upon the people who are in this for the long haul. Sustain them with community; encourage them with surprising kindness; bless them with your Spirit. Amen.