Daily Prayer 11.11.13 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. - Isaiah 65:17-18 The sun rises and we inherit a new day. Having risen with the sun, we in the U.S. can look at the internet or a newspaper and see plenty of evidence of national strife. We are a nation almost evenly divided politically and in a contentious mood; some say we are more deeply polarized now than at any time since the Civil War. Yet for all our important disagreements, our country is not grappling with obvious existential threats as it was in the 1860’s or as it was later during World War II. Today we can argue in relative peace owing to those who laid down their lives for the sake of hope. Many died in the hope of a more perfect union for us, many more died in the hope that the darkness of Nazi nihilism would not overtake us, others died fighting other kinds of oppression in the hope that we and the world we inhabit would become a little more just, more civil, more free. Today we certainly disagree on much, but we ought to agree at least that we are blessed to argue, wrestle, and contend with each other in relative peace and in a an atmosphere of hope, hope given by the grace of God and often preserved and extended in sacrifice. Good morning all! Today let us pray for: Those men and women who have dedicated their lives to our country; Lord, we see through a mirror darkly at best, and often our options of action in the world are less than perfect. While we do not delight in war we understand that it comes, and when it comes we are called to prayer, discernment, and sometimes the ultimate sacrifice. God bless those who have given their lives for us, O Lord, and make us worthy of their sacrifice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:00:57 +0000