January 20, 2021
So Can We Please Just Move On Now: A Prayer
O Lord, a new President has been inaugurated,
the transfer of power is complete,
the transition is over,
so
can we
please
just move on now?
Because
it’s been nothing but
politics,
politics,
politics,
turmoil,
turmoil,
turmoil,
uncertainty,
uncertainty,
uncertainty,
for what seems like forever,
every morning waking up
wondering
what new
craziness,
crisis,
chaos,
will greet us;
twenty-four hours a day,
no let up,
no break,
no peace.
So
can we
please
just move on now?
Move on to days
when we don’t have to
think about,
talk about,
argue about,
politics
every minute
(or pray about every Wednesday);
days when we’re not
scrolling through news apps,
glued to the TV,
reading posts;
days when
government goes about its business
quietly and efficiently,
and we
feel some peace of mind,
can breathe easy again,
relax.
(Anyone remember what that’s like?)
So
can we
please
just move on, move on to the day when
the Capitol is open again,
the Congress can meet safely again,
the Constitution is honored again,
America is America again,
the union a union again;
the day when
full attention is given to
the coronavirus ravaging us,
the devastation brought on by the virus,
distributing the vaccine;
the day when
we act again
for the common good,
not the good of politicians.
But I’m worried, Lord, worried that we
won’t be able
to move on,
because to move on
we need to
heal,
trust one another,
want to come together,
and I’m not sure that is possible,
so far things have gone,
so deep the suspicion runs,
so divided people are,
healing,
trust,
coming together,
sounding to many
too much like giving in,
too much like weakness,
too much like compromising beliefs,
far too many
needing
enemies,
hate,
anger,
to feel good,
to have a cause,
to find a place.
O Lord, only in the power of the Spirit will it happen,
and so
send us the Spirit to
prod,
pull,
push
us
into doing what we should as believers,
and for starters,
stop,
stop allowing
social media, websites, talk radio, to shape
our thoughts, and opinions, and beliefs;
stop listening
only to what
confirms our fears,
supports our suspicions,
approves our prejudices;
stop thinking
that our pocket books
matter most,
truth, principles, character,
nice but not necessary;
start,
start allowing
the Gospel to shape, challenge, transform us;
start listening
to your word and
obeying your word;
start thinking
as you would have us think;
start doing
the small things that make the biggest difference, that
bring healing,
overcome suspicion,
unite people,
things like being
a neighbor again to neighbors,
kind and considerate,
the servants you call us to be,
faithful,
self-giving,
obedient.
Remind us, O Lord,
that it begins with us,
right where we are.
O Lord, heal, strengthen, comfort, sustain, lift up
those battling the virus, those caring for them,
those who are grieving, those suffering from the loss
of their businesses or jobs; those depressed
and despairing.
And move us and our leaders
to get a move on
assisting, bringing relief, giving hope,
as best we can.
O Lord, in the days to come,
calm our hearts,
calm our minds,
calm our nation,
that
we would move toward
hope
for our land,
for the future,
for the children.
Amen.