Some of us used to kneel
to pray, to share communion
to exchange vows, to grieve at a grave.
Even now,
when some of us have the chance or challenge
we kneel to weed a garden,
to examine a small flower along a path,
to play with a child,  to scrub a floor.
Kneeling has meant humbling ourselves
as a sign of a willingness
to use our hands and hearts to serve,
kneeling has meant humbling ourselves
in a posture of physical vulnerability
to indicate our willingness
to be emotionally and spiritually vulnerable
before the pains and angers of the world,
kneeling has meant humbling ourselves
to respect something greater than ourselves,
kneeling has meant humbling ourselves
to praise that which is worth praising,
May we not then kneel to mourn,
to honor those dishonored
by the rage,
the prejudice,
the accidents,
the negligence
of our imperfect world?