Dear Caldwell,
We’ve been taking on some big, hard discussions lately – not the least of which is Jesus’ admonition in Matthew 5 that we are to take the initiative in reconciling with our opponents and “enemies.” (Reminder: we will be spending more time tonight unpacking that scripture and Sunday’s conversation tonight at 7 at Hawthorne’s for the Preachers’ Porch.)
So, as we travel from Sunday to Sunday this week, how about we just pray.
Pray that the court tomorrow will be swayed by your passionate solidarity in support of allowing Noah to be with us on Sundays.
Pray for our team traveling to Atlanta, Montgomery and Selma as we come face to face with history – and the fact that the forces of hate and racism are anything but “history.” (We leave early tomorrow morning and return Friday night.)
Pray for our nation.
And, as a model for a prayer against out own complacency, here is the prayer Abong offered Sunday attributed to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu adapted from an original prayer by Sir Francis Drake.
Disturb us, O Lord
when we are too well-pleased with ourselves
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little,
because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, O Lord
when with the abundance of things we possess,
we have lost our thirst for the water of life
when, having fallen in love with time,
we have ceased to dream of eternity
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.
Stir us, O Lord
to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas
where storms show Thy mastery,
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes
and invited the brave to follow.
Amen