“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
Mahatma Gandhi
There is chaos and darkness all around us.
There is fear, confusion, and mistrust. Everywhere, I see people retreating into their corners.
We’re all shrinking and congregating with people we believe are like us. It’s intimate born by our hatred for the other side.
Deep inside we understand how foolhardy this move is, but we cannot help ourselves. The first order of business is to defend and protect.
Against what? Freedom? Normalcy? Decency? The environment? The economy? The unborn?
We binge on the news or fast from it. We confront family and friends with differing views, or avoid conflict at all costs. Perhaps we remain silent from a well of calm reflection, or from a place of paralyzing indecision.
People keep saying that there’s so much hatred out there. It’s really fear. I see it all around me. Fear of change. Fear of the future. Fear for our society.
Let’s call it what it is. Let’s stop hiding behind our sophisticated arguments, our social media consumption, and our lawn signs.
What to do instead
Allow silence. Fall on your knees. Pray for peace.
Here’s my prayer:
O God,
Help me to be an instrument of love and peace in times of chaos and uncertainty.
Inspire me with divine courage when I’m tempted to attack or run away.
Help me instead to show up in love, accepting all things.
Let me set aside my pride and open my heart to the other.
May I choose to listen when I’m tempted to speak.
May I willingly move toward people in whom I struggle to see Christ’s face.
May I hold my views gently, and love people fiercely.
May I become a center of radiant calm and peace.
May I lose the fear of being maligned or attacked for not toeing the line.
And may my dwelling in peace inspire others to follow.
Thank you so much, Cylon, for a much needed prompt.
We show no respect to anyone – not even ourselves – when we react like wounded animals to mere words and ideas.
A few steps back from high emotion gives us a chance to pause and breath deeply.When conjoined with genuine humility as your prayers embody, we can regain our humanity.
Thank you.
Thank you Cylon. This is a beautiful prayer, and your message was suscint, direct, and spot on! Something that came to mind is that we also fear knowing who we really are… so many times I think the fear I feel is misdirected toward what I do not know, but is really a fear of finding out that I “resemble” what it is that I most fear… Rather convoluted, but I know what I mean! ha ha