Great Mystery,

In the first waking moments of the day, it feels like the world is soft, untrammeled, freshly made and yet soon it seems to twist and turn surprising us, horrifying us, challenging us, asking us “who are we listening to?” 

From Isaiah 6:8 these words: 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Listening One who bears all, can we begin again, this day? Can we not panic, but sit in this moment, quiet, awake, attentive, listening to your call?

Give us strength to stand, to witness, to speak out, to discern what faithful steps look like.  Give us clarity and heart to see the other as kin. 

(silent moment)

The U.S.A. federal election will have gathered and spent $18 billion (US) in individual and political action committee funds for its 2024 election. Much is spent in media and digital outreach as monitored on a research dashboard by John’s Hopkins. Sixty-seven countries throughout the world each have as their annual gross domestic product (GDP) less than what was spent on the USA’s 2024 election. Countries in conflict such as Yemen and Eritrea do not even report GDP. 

Lord, hear our prayers as we witness such extremes of extravagance and want. 

The UN Commission on Trade and Development reports that the destruction of farms, orchards, irrigation systems, storage buildings and machinery will require tens of billions in funds to rebuild Gaza. The West Bank and Gaza’s entire GDP (Palestine) is wavering around $17 to $19 billion. Haiti too has a GDP of $19 billion. As we read these countries names and those that follow below, we mentally trace their locations on our planet, our global family in trade, immigration, famine, war and conflict.

Lord, you are calling us. 

We witness in the World Bank report, the GDP rank order led by the USA, then China, Germany, Japan and India. The UK, France, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Russia, Korea, Mexico, Australia, Spain, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands follow. As we read these countries names our minds trace the globe once again where bounty, extracted resources, and power reside, yet with in each country there is inequality.

Lord, awaken us. 

Teacher Savior, It is hard to hold all of this in some kind of equanimity. You sat in the temple observing to the disciples the coming and goings of the Pharisees and Scribes and the widow bound in a world of injustice. It is the same world today. 

Give us ears to hear your call, to step forward. 

Creator, you lift our eyes to the night sky as we enter this November under a crescent moon and the darker portion dimly light by earthshine.**  Our beautiful earth receives the goodness of light, your wondrous grace. You are so loving.

May the scales fall from our eyes. Lighten our steps. Make straight the path. 

“Here am I. Send me!”

Amen

*World Economic Outlook Database  

** Earthshine – https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/#h-earthshine