Through the Desert of Noise

Rickshaws toot-tooting their horns to warn pedestrians out of their way and to attract passengers

Speakers at the train station blaring announcements for train arrivals

Squeaking breaks in the metro

Drums and bells as people worship at shrines and temples throughout the city

Auto rickshaws with built in speakers blasting hindi music

Various salespeople hawking their wares on the sidewalks

Crows cawing at each other and at you

Wedding processions with music and firecrackers and dancing in the street

Cars and buses honking furiously in the crawling traffic

This place is loud. Almost all the time. It's certainly never anything like quiet, even late into the night and early in the morning.

I have come to Thee to take Thy touch before I begin my day.
Let Your eyes rest upon my eyes for a while. Let me take to my work the assurance of Your friendship.
Fill my mind to last through the desert of noise.
Let Your blessed sunshine fill the peaks of my thoughts.
And give me strength for those who need me.
Amen

-Morning prayer of Mother Teresa and her co-workers (which seems to be based on a Rabindranath Tagore poem, but I can’t seem to find the real origins).

My mom sent me this prayer on a card that came from my Grandma. I’ve been praying it every morning and it has, nearly every day, come to mind while I’ve been trying to make it through the desert of noise. And, nearly every day, it has helped me to do so.