Evening Prayer – 9 November 2016

The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow 

An exhausting night with little sleep

Election Day is behind us

The hurt and the fear are still very present

Lord, this is not an overnight process

Lord, this cannot be done on our own

At times like this, we cry out… 

Lord, teach us how to pray

Condescending comments from others

Comments like get over it, aren’t the answer

Pious platitudes aren’t the answer either

Your healing balm is

Time to process and grieve is

Yet those are partial answers

Your Word tells us to pray for those in positions of authority 

With that command in mind, I pray

I pray for those who have “won” elections

I pray for those who have “lost” elections

I pray for a peaceful transition of power

I pray for wisdom in transition

I pray for a world that watches and wonders

Lord, I pray for ALL of your children

Your children of ALL faiths and creeds

Your children of ALL nationalities

Your children of ALL gender identities 

Your children who are scared and feeling alone

Your children who are contemplating suicide because of bullying

Lord, you ask us to pray for our enemies

Lord, you ask us to pray for those who persecute us

Lord, you ask an awful lot of us

Lord, give us strength

Lord, help us to be, in the words of St Francis

Instruments of your peace

Sowing love instead of hate

Sowing pardon instead of injury

Sowing faith instead of doubt

Sowing light instead of darkness

Sowing joy instead of sorrow

May we love…

May we understand…

Lord, your exhausted servant lifts this humble prayer on behalf of those who hurt so deeply

Dona Nobis Pacem et in Terra

Grant Us Peace on Earth

A wee prayer from the heart of your exhausted Padre…