January 25: The Way Forward Prayer

God of Love, Spirit of Life, have mercy on us.

We do not know the way forward and we cannot go back.

We do not know how to respond to state-sanctioned violence,

to armed government thugs killing people in the streets.

And we cannot go back to outraged complacency,

waiting for the next election cycle to maybe make things better.

We do not know how to address crass indifference to human suffering,

how to melt the icy hearts of those whose hands bring death.

And we cannot go back to mere discussion and analysis,

more hot takes that do nothing to change the situation.

We do not know how this violence and suffering will end.

And we cannot go back to thinking that it’s not our problem.

All we know is that, when everything is cloaked in darkness,

we must bring light, we must be light, we must shine that light

on all the places in our world where people suffer and die,

on all the places in our world where violence and cruelty hold sway,

on all the places in our world that hurt and need to be healed.

May we be the light, the healing balm, the wave of compassion

that our world needs, and may our light grow with each person

who joins in the righteous cause of love and justice for all.

May it be so now and always. Amen!

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