Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Don't let us get sick,
Don't let us get old,
Don't let us get stupid,
Alright?
Just make us be brave,
And make us play nice,
And let us be together,
Tonight.
-- Warren Zevon
Lots of people say they don't pray, but let the boss start down cubicle row with a nasty project, and the air fills with little thoughts.
(No, no, no, not me, Smith's a jerk, make it be Smith, I hate Smith, give it to Smith, no, no, No, NO, NooOOOOO!)
What destination these thoughts? We fling them automatically. Ever been in a car wreck? Just try to keep those babies in.
(What the... watch it WATCH IT OH MY GOD! WATCH...) Uh oh.
We're hard-wired for prayer. Think about it. Wow.
I like this little song I quoted by Warren Zevon. It's a decent litany of hopes. Wellness, young spirits, Alzheimer's at bay, courage, tolerance and fellowship.
In a way, it reminds me of what I like about being a Democrat. We have the desire to see health become a priority, to see the elderly financially sustainable, to forward scientific research against crippling diseases and conditions, to use our strength and to appreciate it's value by not misusing it, to embrace, encourage and expect diversity and to shine the light on ethnic prejudice, and to be involved with our communities.
It resonates, doesn't it?
I'm one of those people who doesn't pray. A flinger of automatic thoughts? Big time. But something about actually ASKING God for something is not my cup of tea. I mean, who am I compared to God? What are my troubles compared to everyone else's? I try to be thankful and make an effort to wing appreciation out there, but so far, I haven't figured out exactly how to pray for something from God without feeling like it's not getting through. I think the problem is on my side. Too proud to ask? Maybe. Grateful I don't have to ask? Definitely.
So, since I don't have any personal troubles I consider truly threatening, no prayers (intentional ones, anyways) from me.
But I was thinking today about my last post, and the enormous amount of very scary reading I did before I wrote it. There was so much I couldn't include that opened my eyes to the political picture in this country. I'm worried. There are 6 high ranking Senators that vote 100% along dominion belief lines, and many others that vote in high percentages. We are closer to the abyss than we know.
So I decided, driving along today and listening to Zevon, that not being ready to pray for myself is OK. It's not a luxury I have for others though. So here is my prayer, for somebody I love very much and am afraid for. America.
God, I need your help.
My country has people in it who feel that they can use your name, manipulate your teachings and misrepresent facts in order to influence faithful people for their own ends.
They are bent on changing a nation. They say it is to bring the nation closer to you, but they are dividing people of faith and turning them against each other.
I can't fix this, so I have to give it to you.
Please help me write the truth, care enough to be brave, reform what I can, protect people who need it and find a way to bridge the gaps between people.
Please help us all find the strengths we need to heal our nation and root out those who would destroy her. Help us make her what she should be ... a battered but victorious symbol of the human endeavor.
Thank you for listening, and for all the good stuff in my life. Tell Warren we miss him.
Love, Jet
posted by Jet @ 3:13 PM
13 Comments:
Most excellent post Jet. I am going to link you on this one. I love the prayer.
Jet - I think I fit the bill as suggested in your blog's title statement. I am a Dem Christian that feels robbed. On the one hand, I am proud that my religion (Episcopalian) promotes diversity in sexual orientation and is gender blind (ie we have a gay bishop and female priests). But I chose to walk away from the church out of my frustration and utter disdain for the neocon-driven and politically-charged dogma that continues to infect this nation through religious establishments, including the would be open-minded Episcopalian church. Your blog has been a great source of reconciliation for me and I'm sure a great many others as well. You are as inspirational as you are influential.
You already know you are god demmed coolest, but I had to come by and give the customary Thank You for saying Hi to the Troops. I know they will be glad to hear from home.
See ya later:)~
thanks for checking out sound destruction. i dig what you are doing here. keep up the good work. SAR and i will be checking in often.
PEACE
A wonderful post. Unselfish, and respectful. Well thought out and I hope contagious. Great job.
I'll join you in that prayer with a hefty "AMEN!". You are so much nicer about these people than I am. I just finished ripping these people a new one again. I can't help but to vent my anger toward them and I'm so glad somebody like you is out there to break it to them a little more "gently". I just do not have that type of patience and love to be the "uniter, not divider" type you are, Jet. I cannot praise your attitude enough. You are one of my favorite bloggers!
Ditto, ditto, ditto!!!!!!!! Thank you - this is a lovely prayer, and I'll borrow it to say out loud.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. This was a hard post to write, actually, because it gave more away that usual. I like to research, contemplate and try to teach it forward, if you will. Discussing prayer was tough for me, because I feel in my search for faith, the meaning, call it what you will, this is an area where the door is still closed.
I'm knockin' though.
Jet - Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such a kind comment. And know that there are others, like myself, who are dealing with the very same faith-based struggles that you so eloquently write of.
Thank you.
Well thought.
All I can do is heartily agree with all the above! Thank You for pouring your heart so eloquently into your posts. So real, so excellent. The prayer is one to ponder and remember...
Hugs to You, Jet.
AMEN, sister, Amen!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Yours is great. Blogrolled!
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