Thursday, June 27, 2013

Dear God,

Tonight at choir rehearsal I couldn't help thinking of Nelson Mandela as we sang a song written soon after his release from prison in 1990.  As we sang the words from Distant Land, I thought of his struggle in a hospital bed in South Africa.  In critical condition I could only feel a prayer emerge in my soul, a prayer for his life, his mission, his sacrifice, his love, and his commitment to freedom.

Sometimes it seems we are drawn to those we do not know personally.  We feel ourselves connected in a way that may seem mysterious; however, if we are anything on this earth we are all members of one human family.  Nelson Mandela is my brother like every male on this planet.  He is hurting, perhaps transitioning from this life to the next.  In gratitude I am challenged to pray, to love, to reach out, to uplift, and to affirm this brother of mine.

As we sang the lyrics, "Swords into ploughshares:  can it all come true?" I wondered if peace could ever become a reality, and not just peace for some, but peace for all, the kind of peace that dissolves fear from our lives, where our neighbor suddenly becomes our friend, our family, and those around the world care for us in ways we can't begin to fully understand.  Peace, where oppression simply cannot get a foothold, where every human is treated like your own child.

I was grateful for the reminder of my need to lift others up, to live in harmony, to share, to love, and to work tirelessly for the kind of freedom heaven affords.

Lead us,
Great God,
lead us
to peace.
Destroy our weapons;
replace them
with love,
and kindness,
and compassion,
and mercy.
Make us friends,
I pray,
so freedom
will have
a chance.

Love, Andrea