Lenten Walk Series 2
/Today's prayer walk was under cloudless skies, which is a rarity for Seattle in February. And instead of 10 prayerful feet, it was simply my own and Anna's. Funny thing how as soon as you draw your line in the sand around an intention, circumstances immediately set themselves up against it. I've learned to identify this as the Pilgrim's Path, others may call it Murphy's Law; be it as it may, the boys were unable to get in on the practice today. Whatever laws were against our family participating today in our Lenten commitment, Anna had clarity of purpose and firmly directed our route. These pictures represent the prayers for our community, on Anna's Spirit-led route.
--------------
Creator of every country, color and kind,
Forgive us when we see difference instead of commonality.
Forgive us when we we react in fear of Other instead of celebration of diversity.
Give us the eyes to see the intrinsic beauty of cultures other than our own, and develop in us a posture of learning, gratitude and respect.
Guide us away from judgement, misunderstanding and offense and bring us to the holy grounds of community and neighborly care.
Amen.
-------------
We pray against fences and barriers of all types.
We pray against the fences that keep people out...and the ones that keep far too many others in. We pray against the chain-links that mark something that some may have, but others may not.
We pray for the sense of safety that can only come from you, O God-that people so desperately need-because there is so much fear in the world and in our own neighborhood.
We pray against the violence that fences are want to proclaim through graffitied messages of hate, intolerance and territory. Bring peace and freedom to those who rally against the barriers in their lives; may their fists shake their confines with justice, and not bloodshed.
Amen.