Sunday, May 30, 2010

Dearest God,

When the pastor invited us to pray silently for our country, several images came to mind. The catastrophic rupture on the ocean floor, oil sputtering at the rate of thousands of barrels each day. New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi in the continuing cleanup following Hurricane Katrina. Nashville, Tennessee and surrounding areas that are still dealing with losses caused by flooding. Appalachia and inner cities plagued with poverty and more. And then we began to sing Here I Am, Lord. As our voices blended together filling the church sanctuary to overflowing, I saw the music spill out the front door left open each Sunday in the summer and sweep around our nation. Here I am, Lord, we each sang, intending to give our lives to helping others. Tears welled in my eyes as I considered the magnitude of what we could do as a universal church in the world.

Regularly you remind us of our world's suffering and your call to respond. I prayed today that we might do more.

You reveal
your world's needs,
O God,
and you
teach us
to care,
to reach out.
Remind us
how much
we need
one another.
Help us remember
that today's abundance
can be
tomorrow's scarcity.
Teach me
to be
more loving
and generous.

Always, Andrea