As I was getting ready for worship this morning, I came across this prayer I wrote some time ago.
It’s words, once again, hit home.
So I decided I would share it again.
Even if we pray with our eyes closed, O God,
Help us to live with our eyes wide open.
Being caught off guard, again, by…
The incredible beauty;
The unquenchable hope;
The deep goodness;
The amazing grace;
Which surrounds us each and every day.
But also to see and to not turn away from…
The deep pain.
And, the very real hatred and fear.
And the faces of those who struggle all day, every day just to survive.
And, somewhere in that incredible swirl of names and faces, may we see ourselves, O God.
Standing there amidst those who find themselves in need of hope and sustenance and forgiveness and grace and standing shoulder to shoulder with those who work each day to make their families and our communities and our world a safer, more equitable, less scary place for us and for all. For all those whose names we know and whose faces we see and whose needs we acknowledge our prayers this day.
May our prayers fly outward into the world You continue to love so much, O God.
And, then, may our lives follow where our prayers first lead.
Amen.
Anne says
July 29, 2018 at 9:46 pmI pray that I may be present to witness and appreciate the beauty of creation each day and remember daily that I am connected to everything I see. I am not separate. I work hard not to judge what is different from what I have known but to see everything as a unique expression of God in form.
I truly believe that the old systems we have known are crumbling in the face of a rising tide of voices demanding social justice, integrity, stewardship for the Earth and humanitarianism. It is up to us how fast we are willing to change as a collective consciousness. I pray for more millennials to wake up and take responsibility to become the next leaders in a world that desperately needs them.
If there has been a time when compassionate understanding was needed, it is now. I believe we are at the tipping point where the concept of “love your enemies” is vital. That even means sending compassion to the White House. Enough of us must realize that each of us has the same God inside. We are all neighbors. Then we will come to understand that we are all of the One. Everyone, no exceptions.