Prayer for the Week
Voices,
Prophets,
Those who inspire the best within;
who challenge
the unhealthy ways of society;
who awaken
the better angels of our nature.
O Artist of our humanity,
you have created a magnificent expression
of the possible when you created us.
O Sculptor of our souls,
you formed us through love,
to share love,
for the sake of love.
Your hope and vision
are etched upon us,
they are found within us,
yet we are too quick
to dismiss the essence
of our humanity.
We yearn for love,
the attention of another human being,
a touch of compassion.
So why is it that we are so quick
to ignore,
to rebuff,
to live our lives
in such a way that we undermine
the hope and vision you placed within?
Why are we so insecure, so fearful —
that it is better to tear down
another human being
than to face the demons within.
Why are we so insecure, so fearful —
that we cannot imagine
our own humanity being valued.
A twisted justification,
a narrow and hateful rationale,
we devalue others, in the belief,
that our humanity will be amplified.
O Lord God, forgive us – forgive us
as we relearn that you formed us
through love,
to share love,
for the sake of love.
O Lord God, reintroduce to Dr. King;
to the transformative power of love;
to the beauty of nonviolent resistance.
O Lord God, show us the ways of Jesus;
allow his Spirit to empower us;
allow him to be for us a mentor and model.
It is through your influential and inspiring
name that I offer these words.
Amen.
