God, we feel so helpless in the face of terrorism!
We vaccilate between wanting to hide or getting even.
Holy God of peace,
you have shown us a third way of dealing with evil
which is neither fighting nor fleeing
but asking what you would have us do and be as peacemakers.
I pray today for all those who are affected directly and indirectly by what
has happened in New York and Washington DC.
I pray for those who think immediately that it is Muslims who are
responsible for this terrorism,
and I pray for the hate which ensues because of that reaction.
Dear Guide and Director, imbue our leaders with your wisdom for this world.
Give us, as a country, the capacity not to fight but to be in conversation,
not to leave but to stay,
even if it be at meetings on racism
when the accusing finger is pointed at us.
Help us not to escalate hate
but to confront it with an urgency of mutual respect,
no matter if we are being respected or not.
O God who wants only good for your children,
let your justice roll down like waters in our hearts and on our planet,
and let righteousness move like an everflowing stream.
As we go about this day, help us to conduct our lives in the river of your
peace that passes all human understanding.
Amen.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid....
Rise, let us be on our way." John 14:27, 31b