Wednesday, October 28, 2020
It’s Taken Its Toll: A Prayer
O Lord, it’s taken its toll, that’s for sure,
the pandemic
has taken it’s toll,
people
fatigued,
depressed,
done with it,
even though
it’s not done with us;
but no matter,
people
no longer cautious,
no longer careful,
no longer concerned,
so tired of it they are;
people
doing whatever they want to do,
believing whatever they want to believe,
denying whatever they want to deny
(all of which people do rather well
in our culture),
so sick of it they are;
people
not feeling,
not feeling much of anything,
not feeling the feelings that make people feel
alive,
so worn down by it all they are.
And other things too
taking a toll,
like politics,
friends not very friendly,
families not very family-like,
neighbors not very neighborly,
so angry and fearful and divided
people have become;
and like
not seeing others
face to face,
that too taking its toll,
always the masks,
the distances,
smiles not seen,
untouchables,
lepers,
we all of us have become,
people
wanting to
break out,
break free,
break for the door,
so much
do they want
things to be
normal again.
O Lord, it’s taken its toll, that’s for sure,
and we need your help
because
left to our own devises
we typically do
what suites ourselves, not
what serves the good of all,
and what has taken its toll
continues to take its toll.
And so grant us
the resolve
to do
what you expect us to do;
to do what is right and responsible;
to do what we are supposed to do as
Christians;
help others,
not endanger others,
nor endanger ourselves
and not be able to
help others.
And grant us
the courage
to act like people
who want to help put the fire out
in a city ablaze,
who join with others to fight the flames,
who protect others from the flames,
who never foolishly fan the flames;
And grant us
the strength
not to
give in,
give up,
give way;
the strength to keep doing what you command
we do,
regardless
of what
others don’t do;
the strength to keep being the human being you created us
to be,
regardless
of what others think it’s okay
not to be;
the strength to keep obeying
you
regardless of others obeying only
themselves.
O Lord, we need your help!
We need you!
We need
to have faith
in you!
Otherwise,
it will be
too much for us.
And so teach us again
that faith describes what we do
when things are at their worst
not their best,
describes
trusting that you are with us,
believing that you will protect us,
living with hope,
loving others,
serving you,
no matter what;
describes
what it means
to be at our best
in the face of the worst;
describes
a best
that overcomes
the worst.
Help us
to be
such a best!
And Lord, we especially remember tonight and pray for
those for whom
the toll has been higher than most,
those who have contracted the coronavirus,
those who have lost someone to the virus,
those who are battling other illnesses
but are afraid to seek treatment,
those who are out of work and
can barely feed their families;
and the invisible victims,
the homeless and hungry pretty much ignored,
the refugees and detainees and children
pretty much forgotten,
the losers held in contempt
but whom you hold dear;
and those
who continue to put themselves at risk for the sake of others,
healthcare workers, police, firefighters
and more.
Heal, comfort, strengthen, support,
and sustain them!
And move leaders
to get off of it and get on with providing relief and help.
O Lord, it’s taken its toll, that’s for sure,
the virus,
politics,
feeling like a leper.
But let not
a morning go by
or an evening pass
that we do not lift up our hearts and
give you thanks
for the day,
for one another,
for all your tender mercies;
give you thanks
no matter
how afraid we are,
how lousy we feel,
how angry we may be;
give you thanks
simply because
we have made it to this day
and through this day
by your grace,
and in
your love
and in the love of others,
there is hope
for tomorrow.
Amen.