Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 10/25

The election's almost here, Lord,

    - many have already voted -

and I find myself wondering

    if you were running for office,

        would you be elected    

        would I vote for you?

If you were a candidate, Lord,

your campaign would be honest, transparent:

    no need for running a fact-check

    on your stump speeches, statements and ads...

 

 But folks who'd hear you would ask:

    Did you hear what he said?

    Does he mean all of that?

    Who can possibly take him seriously?

    
Your campaign promises would be many:

    • an end to all war and violence,

        and peace for those who make it; 

    • a universal sharing of resources

        - beginning with those most in need;

    • respect and reverence for life,

        in all of its shapes and forms

    • welcoming all of God's children,

        regardless of where they come from;

    • justice for all the oppressed;

    • pardon for all who truly repent

    • housing and work for all who need it;

    • toppling the mighty from seats of power

        and filling the hungry with all good things…     

Your government, Lord, would be flawless: 

    • leadership marked by personal sacrifice; 

    • legislation rooted in truth that serves;

    • liberty bound by personal responsibility; 

    • freedom in all that's authentically human;

    • justice tempered with mercy divine;

    • an administration seeking

        e pluribus unum...

 

All your policies would be grounded

in unapologetic preference and care for

    • the defenseless innocent: 

    • the sick and the elderly;

    • those waiting to be born.

    • the poor, the marginalized, 

        the refugee and the stranger;

    • and victims of violence, power and greed...  

 

So, I find myself wondering, Lord:

    if you were running for office,

        would you be elected    

        would I vote for you?

 

But your name won't be on the ballot, Lord

    so send your Spirit to guide my study

    of candidates, policies, platforms and promises

and help me decide how I’ll cast my vote…     

Open my mind to all sides of the issues

    lest I vote uninformed on the crucial matters 

of poverty, prosperity, peace and war, 

    life and death, duties and rights...

Help me see through the memes

    lest I vote on the basis of snark and hype

        of looks and sound bites, ads and polls...

Give me counsel to make a wise choice

    when the choices before me fail to offer 

what I seek and expect and require

    of one who would govern your people…   

Make of me a discerning disciple, Lord,

    empowering me to cast my vote

as the truth of your Word and my conscience,

    as my faith, common sense and my prayer

        will lead me to choose and to vote...      

 

Amen.  

 

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