A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 6/10

I'll go to bed tonight, Lord,

with not a worry or a thought in mind or heart

about my freedom as a human being,

as a man, as a citizen, as a person free to come and go,

when and where he pleases,
my rights guaranteed by God, my nation, the law
and by the wisdom of common human sensibility...

Of the things that might trouble me tonight, Lord,
and keep me from a restful sleep,
none is of a fundamental nature,
none threatens my safety or welfare,
none impairs or impugns my unalienable rights
to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
the pursuit of personal freedom,
of growth and development,
of exploring my gifts and talents
- and the joy of knowing my place in the community
as equal, accepted, honored, reverenced and esteemed...

I go to bed tonight, Lord, free of such worries and concerns
precisely because I'm privileged:
    I'm privileged by a constellation of stars
       far beyond my imagining or arranging;
    I'm privileged as all God's children ought to be
     - but are not yet...

Not all God's children share the freedom,

the liberty, rights and privilege I enjoy
and I often take for granted;
the privilege that now summons me

and summons all of us to work
until the same gifts and blessings are guaranteed, Lord,

guaranteed, protected, defended and ensured

as promised: for all, by all - and without exception...

So I pray a good night's rest and sleep
for all of us so privileged - because we'll need it, Lord:
we've got a lot of work to do tomorrow
and for many years to come...

Protect us, Lord, all of us, while we're awake
and watch over us, all of us, while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you for one another
and asleep, rest in the peace and freedom
you intend for all your children...

Amen.

(The audio begins with a crackling fire place)

Toast to Freedom by Carl Carlton and Larry Campbell

How delicious is the winning of her kiss
Bind her love to eternal bliss
She’s the greatest power in the universe
Freedom

Her touch will feed your real hope
In the darkest of days and on the steepest slope
Let your good heart and kindness fill her temple
Freedom

Nobody’s free til everybody’s free
We walk the winding road, sail the raging seas
No prison cell, no censorship hell
Can claim our obedience and love

Here’s our toast to freedom
To human rights and dignity
Love, respect and forgiveness
United in the dream for victory
Here’s to the battlefields for justice
Of the banished, tortured and enslaved
To the selfless spirit and commitment
To our brothers and sisters in the grave