God of all times and places,
as we look out into your world
we see so many different things:
sun
snow
rain
chaos
silence
hope
fear
peace
violence
justice
faith
oppression
…
The list goes on,
and on,
and on.
As I gaze out my window today,
I am reminded that what I see
what I experience,
what I hear,
what I feel,
are all dependent on where I am, and who I am.
And, in so many ways
what I see outside my window
depends on whose I am as well.
As your children we strive to experience the world through your eyes and ears,
loving our neighbors
living in harmony with the earth
hearing your voice of justice and hope.
This week we have
remembered the Holocaust
continued to struggle through a global pandemic
watched as Ghana remembers the life of their longest-serving leader, Jerry John Rawlings
witnessed protests by farmers in India
felt the anxiety of rising fire danger in Australia
sensed the growing strain as COVID cases continue to rise in the United Kingdom, Peru, and many other countries
we have been dismayed that over 20,000 people have been forced to flee from their camps in Syria due to flooding
and we have been astounded by feats of athleticism and grace.
And that is just a part of the news which has buffeted us, Holy One.
We have friends and family who are suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally.
We have new opportunities in life, new jobs, new relationships, homes.
We celebrate with new families and grieve with parents.
We enjoy fellowship and meals.
We ache because there is no one with whom to share our time.
Both near and far our lives are filled with sorrow and hope, joy and pain, grief and celebration.
But most of all, Abundant God, we long to be surrounded and uplifted by your presence in all things.
For a moment we pause, we breathe, we wait, we rest in you.
Then, we return to the work of co-creating a world
where you are what we see, what we hear, and what we feel.
Because, O God, you love us, and you call us your own.
Continue to guide, teach, and transform us, we pray.
Amen.
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