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PRAYER FOR GOD'S GOOD EARTH
Father
the Bible tells us You looked on all that You made and saw that it was
good. But we have been too willing to squander the richness of creation.
We have laid the ax to the mighty forests despoiled the green hillsides
wasted the earth's mineral wealth. We have fouled the air littered the
countryside and polluted the streams and oceans. Voices are raised to stop
us from squandering our patrimony. May we heed them in time so that one
day we can look on the planet you have given us and say with pride, once
again "Behold, it is good."
92.
PRAYER FOR ACCEPTANCE
Sometimes
I find it hard to realize that you are a loving father, Lord. Someone
close tome dies or becomes seriously ill. A senseless tragedy occurs an
earthquake, a flood a freak accident. Children starve. The poor and the
aged are ignored. People are hated because of their color beliefs or
birthplace When these things happen, I want to know why, Lord. But You
never answer. And I, in the darkness of faith and trust in You can only
accept. It's a lot like the way parents must treat young children. You
don't explain fire or pain to a toddler. You simply keep the child from
touching the stove. From my limited point of view, I can't hope to
understand the enormous mysteries of life. I can try to approach them with
love and compassion. I can try to lessen, at least a little, the pain and
suffering about me.
93.
FOR CIVIL AUTHORITY
If
Your power flows to public servants through us the people shouldn't our
bitter complaints lead us to self scrutiny and action?
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94. PRAYER FOR BROTHERHOOD
Father You have made us. Red, yellow,
brown, white and black, tall and short, fat and thin, rich and poor, young
and old all are Your children. Teach us to cooperate rather than to
compete to respect rather than to revile to forgive rather than condemn.
Your son turned from no one. May we learn, like Him, to be open to share
of the divine that You have implanted in each of Your sons and daughters.
And may we forge a bond of love that will make a living reality the
brotherhood in which we profess to believe.
95. CHRISTOPHER PRAYER
Father, grant that I may be a bearer
of Christ Jesus, Your Son. Allow me to warm the often cold, impersonal
scene of modern life with Your burning love. Strengthen me, by Your Holy
Spirit to carry out my mission of changing the world or some definite part
of it, for the better. Despite my lamentable failures, bring home to me
that my advantages are Your blessings to be shared with others. Make me
more energetic in setting to rights what I find wrong with the WORLD
instead of complaining about it or myself Nourish in me a practical desire
to build up rather than tear down to reconcile more than polarize to go
cut on a limb rather than crave security. Never let me forget that it is
far better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. And to join my
light, one day, with Yours.
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