I began, a few years ago
Choosing a word to guide my prayer life
My first word
Held on to, cherished for a year
Was gratitude

Last year my word
Softening my too often hard heart
Was compassion

This year my word
Filling my soul with the universal
Is glory

How long it has taken me
To recover the comfort, the rest
Of glorifying that which is owed glory

Gratitude opened my eyes
To all the many privileges
For which I am thankful now
Always

Compassion opened my heart
To all the privileges
That so many – most really
Lack

Now glory opens my soul
To the oneness beyond privileges
To the unprivileged, unrestrained,
Untainted, unapportioned
Unearned, unmerited
And all too often unappreciated
Glory surrounding us all
Glory within us all
Glory creating this wonder upon wonders
This universe that we inhabit
That I inhabit
Often too easily
Forgetting, too often, to see 
Glory