On Thursday some of the people who visit here
regularly gathered in the chat room to pray. I didn't organize it or plan it,
nor was I involved in any way other than as a simple participant. This sprang
naturally out of the friendships that have grown in the chat room. I can't tell
you how happy that makes me. I dropped in that evening and found people talking
about the disaster on the Gulf coast. Every once in awhile someone would write a
prayer and others would respond.
Our Christian spiritual tradition teaches us
that the prayers of the people are powerful and matter in this world. Sadly, we
often think of prayer as something to be done at a formal moment, like in church
or at the table. Others get bogged down in thinking about what prayers do or do
not do. That's often been my problem.
Praying is a simple thing. Turning one's heart
and mind toward the source of goodness. The exact mechanism by which prayers
work is unknown. Nor do we know much about how God does or does not work in our
world. Clearly we are often left to struggle and grow through great evil and
times of difficulty.
I find that it helps my spirit to gather with
other people who are worshipping at the altar of goodness and mercy. We call
that altar the very being and presence of God.
Here are a couple of prayers that were offered
in that chatroom that evening. I'm posting them at the request of those who were
there.
[name changed] 10:08 pm: Our wondrous
Creator, in recent days we have been shocked by the devastation from mindless
forces of nature. The great evil we see makes us wonder if you really have
anything to do with our lives here on earth. We wonder if you truly care about
us as individuals. What we read in the scriptures seems impossible based on what
we see in the world. (more coming...)
[name changed] 10:09 pm: In times like
these we pray out of devotion, commitment, and in obedience to Christ, who
prayed like a little child. We pray even if we despair. (more coming...)
[name changed] 10:10 pm: Be with our
brothers and sisters in the gulf coast areas. They are struggling to survive.
They are grieving those who did not survive. And they are facing the kind of
evil that comes when selfishness reaches it's deepest levels. Surely we know the
presence of evil in this world. (last bit coming...)
[name changed] 10:11 pm: Bless and keep
them in the middle of this tragedy, we pray. And shore up our faith for it fails
us sometimes. We are weak, though we would be strong. Do not forsake us, but
strengthen us so that our living would be as full of love as our praying. Amen.
[name changed] 10:12 pm: Amen
[name changed] 10:12 pm: Amen
[name changed] 10:12 pm: Amen. That was lovely.
[name changed] 10:12 pm: amen.
[name changed] 10:20 pm: Oh, Spirit of
Justice and Mercy, let us be wise as we begin to find answers to the question
"Why?" Let us be careful in who is held accountable, but let us also be
unflinching in seeing what needs to be seen. Oh, dear God, let us not cry
"Peace, Peace" in the face of war. Let us not hide our eyes. Free us from
apathy. Free us from powerlessness. Free us from our fear. Let us be strong and
good and compassionate and welcoming. Help us, O God of Peace and Love, be a
part of building a better world. A world that you can be proud of. A world that
we can be proud of. Help us remember that the Kinship of God is within us. Amen.
[name changed] 10:25 pm: Amen
rlp
