God of time and understanding, your people have gathered to contemplate your actions and our own since before we tracked the passing of the days. We want to know what everything means and why long before we are ready to understand, long before the ideas planted within us have had time to grow, or the fruits of our labor have ripened. Help us to discern our place in this world, what we are meant to shape, the knowledge we are meant to absorb and pass along, and what we are ready to understand each day. Give us hope, love, and patience, but also hearts and minds that never stop asking for more. Let us not be discouraged by the unknown, but heartened by your continued presence in our lives. May we seek always to know you, ourselves and others more each day. Amen.