A Prayer for Strength in Fearful Times
This prayer originally appeared on The Church of the Larger Fellowship.
By the Rev. Meg Riley
Let us be the adults in the room,
The ones who know and feel our fears—
Who know too well the horror of intolerance, mobs, violence.
Who don’t allow our fear to fester into bitterness.
Who will never name hate as our final answer.
Let us be the adults in the room,
The ones who don’t call names,
Who don’t simplify or turn people into caricatures.
Who don’t paint with broad brushes and sneers.
Who don’t dismiss complex people with simple judgments.
Let us be the adults in the room,
The ones who step in the way of the bullying.
Who don’t allow name-calling.
Who don’t allow others to turn people into caricatures.
Who stand on the side of love.
Let us be the adults in the room,
The ones who ask questions, who reason.
Who know that truth sets people free.
Who understand when to speak and when to listen.
Who study history’s cruelty and vow, “Never again.”
Let us be the adults in the room,
The ones who know the Holy is too big to name.
Who make room for the wisdom of Allah, Moses,
Who celebrate the life of Krishna, Jesus,
Who glean sacred text from science and nature.
Let us be the adults in the room.
The ones who know that diversity makes us stronger.
Who search for multiple wisdoms,
Who speak many languages,
Who are willing to admit that we need one another.
Thanks Meg. Lovely as you are!
Beth Cardall Leehy, Throop UU Church, Pasadena CA
Wow Meg! That’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Nicely done – have shared this with several friends. Sets the tone for today!
Thanks Meg this is wonderful…indeed, let us be the adults.
Fabulous and meaningful. Thank you so much.
I am posting this on the Pocatello is 2 Great 4 Hate Facebook page. Thanks, Meg.
Thank you, Meg. I’m posting this on my desk for daily reflection.
Successful people aren’t born that way.They become productive by creating the routine of performing stuff unsuccessful individuals don’t like to do
Thanks Meg this came at just the right time for me. It is really so beautiful. The voice of reason has to be so much louder than the voice of discord.