Fullness of joy, elixir of peace

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the States, and I've had the fullness of gratitude on my mind in a big way. Gratitude arises from an awareness of and belief in our blessing, and hope and belief in blessing always arrives before we see the outer evidence of change. I think of David picking up the slingshot, Daniel saying his prayers, Esther in the king's palace, Jonah in the whale's belly, and even Abraham hiking up the mountain with Isaac, and remember all the examples we have of people who acted on their belief in the goodness of God without seeing the outer evidence that their trust would prove true. They each acted in dire conditions--under direct threat of their lives or the lives of those they loved. They stepped forward not believing that they would figure it out somehow along the way, but that God was with them and that ultimately goodness prevails.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways--
Reclothe us in our rightful mind
In purer lives, Thy service find
In greater reverence, praise.

-- John Greenleaf Whittier

May this Thanksgiving be a time of peace, refreshment, and grateful celebration for President-elect Obama and his family, and for each of us in our own homes, with our own families. We each embody and live out the hope and trust of new light and life, new community and welcome, in America and throughout the world. May our prayers and thoughts continue to support the Obamas in love and gratitude as they step onto the world stage to make the lasting difference of a generation, knowing God is ever present.

Of the people, by the people, for the people

Today is the anniversary of Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address, in front of a crowd of 15,000 people (read about the story on Writer's Almanac or see the original documents on the Library of Congress site). President-elect Obama mentioned in his interview on 60 Minutes Sunday evening that he is currently reading Lincoln, and as he and his transition team continue to make important choices about his cabinet, this prayer bubbles up:

God, may this be a day of vision, clarity, and peace for President-elect Obama and all those gathering to help uncover the path through our current valley of challenge and difficulty. Continue to protect his vision and effort and bring those with hearts of service and minds prepared and open, receptive for the work ahead. Support him as he continues to appeal to the higher angels of our nature and leads us to believe in the potential of our good agency once again. Amen.

The greater good

Lord, turn out minds, hearts, and spirits to the greater good you are working through us--as a nation, as a species, as a world. Amen

And from the Merton Institute's Weekly Reflection:

It is true, political problems are not solved by love and mercy. But the world of politics is not the only world, and unless political decisions rest on a foundation of something better and higher than politics, they can never do any real good. When a country has to be rebuilt after war, the passions and energies of war are no longer enough. There must be a new force, the power of love, the power of understanding and human compassion, the strength of selflessness and cooperation, as the creative dynamism of the will to live and to build, and the will to forgive, the will for reconciliation.

Thomas Merton. Honorable Reader. Robert E. Daggy, editor. (New York: Crossroads Publications, 1989): 125

Refreshment and Laughter

God, joy is the lifespring and song of all your creation. May President-elect Obama and his wife and daughters find laughter and joy along their path today. May we each feel the celebration that is the natural expression of life bubbling up in the midst of our tasks today. Amen.

Standing alone

God, sometimes you draw us into companionship--ideas and inspiration come through conversation, presence, reading, observing. Sometimes we are drawn away from contact, that we might stand alone in quiet, hear the soft voice of spirit, sense the images coming into focus in our hearts. Please bless President-elect Obama today with the discernment to know when to listen receptively and when to stand alone, listening within, pondering, and waiting on you. And in the moments when standing alone feels overwhelming, help us to remember that you are ever-present, with us in this very moment, and that we stand embraced by history, a living current of life, love, light, and growth in grace.

A prayer for the First Family

This prayer is from Becki:

Loving God, there is a new feeling spreading across the nation. One of joy and hope. Lay your hand on our fevered brow and bring us back from the sickness that is fear and paranoia and distrust and greed.

Open hearts and minds that previously delighted in their closure - or at least felt most comfortable there.

Grant strength to President-elect Obama, surround him with a "force field" of Your love and safety, and grant the same blessings to his family. Guard the girls' hearts as they become the First Daughters.

Love us and bless us this day and in the days and years to come.

Amen.

Receiving the answers we need

This morning I was planning to post a different prayer, but as I sat down to write it occurred to me to look something up in The Green Bible. (I just purchased it this week--if you are interested in the ways in which spirituality and earthcare connect, I highly recommend it.) My attention was drawn to the story of Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream. As the story goes, the king was so troubled by his dreams that he ordered all the magicians and enchanters of the kingdom to be brought to him so they might interpret his dream. No one could. In fury, the king called for the death of all the wise men, but Daniel answered prudently. He asked the official what made the king's decree so urgent, and when the official explained, Daniel went to the king and asked for time, saying that he would be able to give the king the interpretation.

This seems to me particularly relevant for the situation we face today. The problems are so big, the challenges so far-reaching, the effects of such magnitude, that only an answer that requires the best of us all--that arises from within and beyond us--will work. The good news is that Daniel did receive what he sought, as we will. Here is Daniel's prayer of thanks (Daniel 2:19-23), and I offer it as a prayer for President-elect Obama this morning, that he might be reassured that the God who understands all things and stirs hearts and minds afresh will bring the answers needed for this time:

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel said:

"Blessed be the name of God from age to age,
for wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons,
deposes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my ancestors,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and power,
and have now revealed to me what we asked of you,
for you have revealed to us what the king ordered."

Amen and amen.

One note: I respect the fact that some of you reading this post may have mixed reactions to the Bible. I did, too, for many years. My own sense of the Bible today is that it was written by people in a variety of settings for a variety of purposes and that the words within it are not sacred nor to be taken literally as a mandate for any action that is not in accord with love for all beings (especially actions that reject or hurt any of God's children or creation). I think God's spirit of love and wisdom is continually stirring our hearts and bringing clarity and understanding, and when we read, see, or meet people and ideas that touch us, we are being given the opportunity to have "ears that hear" and "eyes that see" spirit at work.

Essence of our being

God it occurs to me this morning that in listening deeply we have the opportunity to hear whispers of what's real about us--what's enduring, lasting, valuable about our lives. The financial crisis that is clouding our skies right now does not define us, as individuals, as your children, as a people, as a world. Like the loaves and the fishes, Love will open a way for enough for all. Bless the President-elect, his family, and his staff, advisors, friends, and supporters today as we respond to the pressures of urgency with a calm knowing of who we are, deeply, with you. The truth of our being is not marked, limited, or shaped by mistakes, error, illusions, or self-gain; rather, the openness of spirit flows and blesses and brings balance and healing to all. May we each and all feel and know your provision and presence in a real way today. Amen.

For gathering wisdom

One of the amazing things about this created world, God, is that we need everyone and everything in order to be whole. We all have a place; every created thing is needed. Though the tree reaches to the sky, it needs the ground to secure its reach. That single tree can grow tall but it is protected and strengthened by others around it. As President-elect Obama turns his mind and heart to the issues at hand--in particular, the economic crisis he will speak about this afternoon--give him the clarity to hear your harmony and the receptivity to recognize the wisdom arising from the gathered wholeness of all those drawn to help.

Welcome!

This week we elected a new president and with him, an administration of hope, change, empowerment, and transformation. It occurred to me after reading this article last night, that for those of us who are inclined to send good thoughts, pray, or otherwise contribute our general good will to the healing of our country and her people, I'd like to create a blog where we can post our ongoing prayers for Barack Obama's presidency, his leadership, his council, and all the choices and decisions he makes as he faces the most difficult of jobs in the most difficult of times. I know in my own life, the difference between feeling isolated and unable to cope and feeling courageous and ready to face the task before me has to do with my sense of connection--to others, to hope, to goodness, to God. Maybe this blog can be a kind of running prayer line that sends good thoughts for Obama and all whose lives he touches (which is all of us!) as he seeks to lead this country in the coming years.

I'll begin by posting whatever bubbles up for me, but I invite and welcome you to post your own prayers in the comments following each post. Some I'll copy and paste as blog entries.

The only rules are these:

• Please share the light by offering loving ideas (don't bash other beliefs or traditions)
  
• Please know that others pray with you as they read;
  
• Please don't feel confined by the use of the word "prayer" and offer thoughts, good wishes, or hopes in your own words as it feels right

I know the rules are a bit arbitrary but I want to keep a good vibe going and take care not to run anybody else down (administrations or otherwise) in the process. I believe we all genuinely seek to do our best with what's set before us. Let's turn our good, loving attention to supporting a presidency and country we all want to be a force for good in the world.

Many blessings, and thanks for joining me.