How shall I pray, today, Lord? So many topics, situations, peoples, needs, joys, and problems all clamoring for attention and my thoughts are whirling and screaming.
Calm us, Lord, as you calmed the storm on Galilee for your disciples.
“The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his.” (Psalm 24:1)
Now that is the starting point.
I am thankful for…. the rich autumn colours and the fallen leaves in the northern hemisphere requiring sweeping up because it means buds are burgeoning, and bulbs are putting up their first leaves promising new life in spring. Yet in the southern hemisphere there is drought even in so many countries in South America reliant on the Amazon rainforest catchment areas due to deforestation. Domestic animals, cattle and wildlife too are suffering, starving and dying as a result.
“In the woods we return to reason and faith.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson, Writer-Philosopher
Open our eyes, minds and hearts to our responsibility to the planet you, Creator God, have entrusted to our care.
I am thankful for…. the rain that is filling our half empty reservoirs here in the UK. Yet so many other countries have floods even in South Kerala, India and Nepal, while others in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Madagascar and parts of the USA, Mexico and Yemen have drought or only access to contaminated water. Often where there is drought there is famine.
“We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.” –Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist teacher
Open our eyes, minds and hearts to our responsibility to our brothers and sisters in the human family throughout the world, equally created by you, God.
I am thankful for…. the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means that I have enough to eat and clothes to wear. Brothers and sisters even in our home countries can only afford to eat once every couple of days while so many in positions of influence and power, do not seem able to see this painful, obscene reality in a world where none should or need be hungry.
“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” –Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife
Open our eyes, minds and hearts to our responsibility to our brothers and sisters in the human family throughout the world, equally created by you, God.
I am thankful for…. all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech. But my sisters in Afghanistan crowd my mind – in the only country in the world where girls and women are barred from education yet it is a country of deep culture and learning. the list of countries where protest or freedom of speech is prohibited or dangerous seems to lengthen by the day, including: Eswatini (Swaziland), China, Eritrea, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Philippines, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Somalia. We give thanks and pray protection for those bravely standing up to such oppression even at the cost of their liberty and lives. We recall all those in public office often the target of hatred, abuse and violence as they seek to serve those they represent. Comfort those bereaved including the family of David Amess, a UK Member of Parliament murdered this week by a radicalized young man, as he met constituents in a free advice session in a church.
“Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is an outcome. –Arthur Chan, Behavioral Scientist.
Open our eyes, minds and hearts to our responsibility to our brothers and sisters in the human family throughout the world, equally created by you, God.
Forgive us Father, for all the times we label and so often decry or despise others, forgetting each one is made and loved by you.
Forgive us, Jesus, for the little choices that blind us to the pain we cause others to suffer.
Forgive us, Holy Spirit, our for silent collusion with systems that deny justice and human need, but serve our politics or convenience first.
God in your mercy: hear our prayer.
“The one thing we need more than hope is action. Once we start to act, hope is everywhere.” –Greta Thunberg, Earth Activist
Creator God, remind us daily, “The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his.” (Psalm 24:1)
May it make each one of us stop and remember all those without some or all of our blessings and recommit to the struggle to fight for justice, access, and an equal share of all that is needful to live, not just survive, as a child of God, by whom each one of us is created. Amen.
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