The Old Man's Ritual

It is a ritual the old man has observed since he was a little boy… a ritual that fills his heart with love and fills his mind with joy… Every morning…the moment he rises from his bed…as he thinks about his yesterday…and about today…what lies ahead. He turns to the east and prays for the respect that will help him to behave…then he turns to the north and prays for the courage and strength it will take to be brave. Next he turns to the west and prays for wisdom and truth…then to the south for kindness and honesty…then he turns his gaze to the Earth and prays for humility. Next he pauses for a moment before turning to the sky above and to whomever is up there listening…he begins to pray for love. For he knows if even one direction of his prayers is answered… when he walks out his front door… he will be a better person than he was the day before.