A Prayer

Good morning God

the sky is clear

the air is cool

your creation is stunning

 

your gifts O God

are amazing

and I wonder

how can I keep from singing

how can I keep from dancing

 

but on this day it is difficult to sing

and my feet are heavy

my heart

is 

heavy

 

O it is not so much one event

it is just

that we are on such a perilous path 

we have chosen ways that

simply

do not work

they have never worked

but in fear

we scurry back to them

 

we have chosen

the way of fear

the way of power

 

 in fear we combat violence with violence

hatred with hatred

in fear we create power

we use power

we think that we can legislate our way

shoot our way

perhaps even "church" our way

to a place that feels

more secure

a place where "we" are safe

and "they" are controlled

and bowed

contained

 

those people

those forces

those evils

 

O Lord this day

forgive us for not listening

when you told us that the old ways

of fear and power

are not your ways

 

forgive us for letting those

who chose

those ways

pull us with them into the fire

 

forgive us for answering in kind

with our own sanctified version

of hatred

and violence

Help us O God

this day

to rest in you

to wait upon your presence

to drink deeply of your goodness

and be

your 

people

______________________________________

but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31