Over the last several days, I've framed my prayer posts in terms of faith in God rather than in candidates or political parties. This was not an effort on my part to avoid or escape political realities in our lives, but rather to articulate that stance which our faith calls us to assume - precisely when facing those same realities. A verse from the psalms (with my own flourish) puts it well:
Do not put your trust in princes, neither red nor blue,
nor in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
I've found that the more I see God as the ruler of my life, the freer I am to examine and parse the political scene in which I live. In other words, from the perspective of faith I have a clearer perception of the world around me. For the record: I'm confident that I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses here and I know that my positions on issues have not changed. What has changed is my view of the larger picture; my peripheral vision on the electoral scene; and my capacity to see into, behind and through the marrow of the America's political life. The less I "put my trust in princes" the more I can see them for who they are - and what they are not. I find in my faith, then, a great freedom - and a peace that I know only God can give...
You, O Lord, are my strength and my help,
you rule my life
with your word and your wisdom,
your grace and your mercy,
your blessing and peace...
In you, O Lord, I take refuge:
let me never be put to shame.
Open my eyes that I may see
and enlighten my mind that I may know
the fullness of all your truth...
Be my help, O Lord, in my weakness
be my hope in good times and bad;
be the light on my path that I may see
the way that leads me to you...
Open my eyes, my mind and my heart,
let me see the world as it is, Lord,
and give me the courage to do and to speak
as your Spirit may guide and inspire...
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.
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