Prayers of this person

4.21

Being asked to say the "Prayers of the People" at church is always a particularly challenging challenge.  How could I -- one person with my singular perspective and limitations -- write and say anything that would be adequate for our two hundred and fifty congregants?  This week made the job particularly difficult. 

I wrote and said this prayer with some fervor. And, by the time I got to the end, I had a catch in my throat.  That happens a lot these days, and it always happens when I'm telling something that has a heart burr.  Something sticky -- either because I cannot do what I desire to do, or I am saying something that I had not heretofore known it to be true. Often, the veracity of my own words shocks me; I don't know where they come from.   And, sometimes, honest to God, it is just spirit -- the wayward wind of spirit. 

In case you were wondering, this is the best I could do today...

Dear God,

This may not be an easy or polite prayer, but we have talked like this before and I know you hear our words even when they are filled with confusion, anger and frustration. 

Once again, who we think we are has been shaken by what has been done in this world. It can be hard to trust that good is abundant, and love always wins. 

God, you have named and claimed the prophets. You have equipped the saints for service. And you have – in that same generosity - blessed us each with undeniable skills. Irrevocable talents. We are lucky, each of us, to be a child of god even in what appears to be a godless world. 

But we know – we hang onto the belief – that this is not a godless world.

That is why we must tune our ears to your call, we must prepare our hearts for action.  We must be moved to follow your beckon with confidence and humility. 

Let us be the people you ask us to be, help us be the people you need us to be.

May we use the gifts you’ve given us

for healing, for helping,

for loving, for lifting,

for changing, for challenging,

for magnifying, for marveling,

for purpose, for praise,

for growth and, always, for the greater good.

For when we use our god given talents for anything less than godly action, we have failed you and have failed us.  Forgive us, God, for the many ways we waste your love and faith in us.  

And yet, so too, we thank you. We sing to your glory and to your might. We count on your ability to shape and transform us, your everlasting desire to tilt us toward the light, to help us be the light. 

This week acts of intentional harm were surpassed by thousands of acts of kindness. 

Runners who tore off their shirts to make tourniquets.

Blood banks filled to the brim.

Restaurants staying open to offer refuge.

Families posting places for the stranded to stay.

You see, we saw that love does win.  Love always wins.

God’s people show up.  God’s gifts appear.

A call is sounded and people run to serve. 

 

We pray for who lost their lives this week in Boston:

26 year MIT police officer Sean Collier,

29 year old Krystle Campbell

Boston University graduate student Lingzi Lu

8 year old Martin Richard

And, we pray for those who are on our hearts and minds today in silence:

God, help us do what Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of:  “When people plot, we must plan. When people burn and bomb, we must build and bind. When people shout ugly words of hatred, we must commit ourselves to the glories of love.”

And, so, dear God, knowing that one of the glories of love is forgiveness, we pray for compassion. We pray that, in the face of this very difficult week, we are able to take the radical departure from the expected, and draw from your deep well of mercy by being merciful.  When others clamor for punishment, gather in the streets shouting of victory, must do what Jesus asks us to do. Forgiveness marks the kingdom road. Let loving-kindness be our center.

In the name of the one who turned over tables in frustration and anger, in the name of the one answered the enormity of his call and walked into the face of violence with faith,in the name of the one who loved beyond loving and creates a resurrection spirit in all of us, we pray, Our father…