Our God and God of all people:
There are times when we look at
your world and see the delicate balance that you have bequeathed to us. Sunlight, seed and moisture come together to feed,
soothe, heal and inspire.
Bones, sinews, and tissue are
infused with the gift of life and understanding.
Seasons change.
Time passes.
And we who have been granted
the ability to discern stand in awe of it all.
And yet – all is not perfect
in your world, O God - all is not serene.
Beneath the surface-beauty that inspires is the reality of constant
struggle.
Your creatures fight to
survive. This is the way of nature.
Scarce resources are claimed
by the strong, the swift, and the fortunate.
Those who can take will live
to see another tomorrow. Those too weak
are quickly extinguished.
But we humans claim to have
conquered our savage selves. Our laws
and systems of governance and justice are designed to help us rise above our
passions. We say we are Your partners.
And yet we still have not found a way to govern without conflict. As
this legislative session progresses; as late nights and early mornings give way
to frayed tempers and intolerance, we pray that any debate that takes place be
devoid of personal prejudice or political patronage. May the differences that divide these
representatives serve the good of all our citizens. Help them to remember that humanity is
created in the Divine image – as such, everyone is worthy of respect.
Grant us tolerance, O God –
even for those whose core beliefs are different from their own. May empathy guide all deliberation. Help these elected officials to not only to hear
one another, but to truly listen and see that their task is dialogue, not
diatribe. Let all see that they are
allies, not adversaries. May we remember
that the differences that separate us are an essential aspect of our humanity –
and our ability to grow is our strength.
AMEN
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