NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 11/8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've  been sitting here, Lord,

reflecting on the campaign, the election,

the results,  the aftermath...

Taking a little personal inventory,

I've been trying to remember any times

when you gave me a free pass:

to revile any neighbor

    whom I judge

        to have no redeeming moral qualities...

to malign a brother or sister

    who supports a candidate 

        who doesn't happen to be my candidate...

to slander someone

    on the basis of what I've read

        in all the media that agree with me...

to impugn the motives of others,

    even millions of others,

        based on their party affiliation...

 

to speak of others

    as I'd want no one to speak of me

        or of anyone I love...

 

to cut someone out of my life

    because the cut of their politics

        doesn't fit mine...

 

to bully others into silence

    by my intolerance and scorn

        of people with different beliefs...

 

to demand respect for my own conscience 

    while failing to reverence

        what others hold dear and sacred...

to injure the feelings of others

    counting them politically expendable,

        strategic collateral damage...

 

to hate the one who hates my ideas,

    to vilify those on the other side,

        to write off those with opposing views...

But you, Lord, 

you give no free passes for such behavior

but rather, you call me

    to love my neighbor as myself,

    to love my enemies

    and to pray for those who persecute me... 

 

You make no exceptions for political purposes

    or for election years,

        or FaceBook memes or Twitter sneers:

no exceptions, Lord, just your law

    to love you by loving my neighbor...

 

Thus, my personal post-election inventory, Lord,

and my prayer for your forgiveness

and the healing of your mercy...

 

Let the healing begin, Lord,

and let it begin with me...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

Psalm 51 by Bob Hurd 

Create in me a clean heart.

Have mercy on me, God, in your compassion.

Remove my sin, wash me from my guilt.

 

O purify my heart and teach me wisdom,

then I shall be whiter than the snow.

 

O give me back the joy of your salvation,

a willing spirit sustain in me.

 

 

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