As a progressive, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to God. This article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
At our church on 30th Street, someone generously donated a “Peace Pole.” It was a marker – with a simple prayer written on all sides in different languages. The prayer was short and powerful. “May peace prevail on Earth.”
With the unrest and continued violence in so many parts of our world, in our own country, and here in San Diego, my heart prays this prayer, “May peace prevail on Earth!” I whisper or think this prayer as I watch the news, read online and drive through beautiful San Diego.
Will you join me in that prayer this week? Let’s join our intentions for peace.
A dear colleague, Rev. Durrell Watkins, from Sunshine Cathedral MCC Ft. Lauderdale wrote this – may the power of these words move us to prayer and action.
Haven’t we had enough of war: not only the wars we export, but the wars on our streets, the wars that wage in our own hearts?
Aren’t we yet willing to recognize the devastating legacy of racism?
Can’t we seek to heal the wounds caused by injustice, domination, and exploitation?
Will we ever cease our worship of violence and our distrust of the Other?
The Earth and Her inhabitants are weary from conflict. We are despondent to see once again communities torn apart by injustice and disregard for the dignity of every person.
The riots, the pain, the losses in Ferguson, Missouri that have followed the brutal slaying of Michael Brown bring all these questions to mind, questions that we grow so tired of asking, questions that still have not found satisfying answers.
And so we turn once again to prayer. There will be letters written and protests and debates, but in the meantime, in this moment, in this time of sadness and frustration, we choose to quiet ourselves, to know that there is a Universal Power that flows through every life, that is part of every life, that excludes no one for any reason, and in the name of this one Power we affirm hope and the possibility of healing in our world.
In the name of the Omnipresence we affirm blessings for the residents of Ferguson.
In the name of Justice Herself, we affirm wisdom for those who must lead us through the difficulties at hand.
God of many names, mystery beyond our naming, give us the courage and the resilience to not allow our weariness to prevail, but rather let us continue to hope for, work for, and settle for nothing less than “liberty and justice for ALL.”
Amen.
