Prayer for Today

 O God, our help in ages past and our hope for this day and countless days to come.  We sing with the ancestors that we’ve come this far by faith.  We know that the road can be rough, rugged, and dangerous.  We’ve twisted ankles and souls; we've encountered hurting people in the ditches of life like the Good Samaritan, and we are constantly questioning, “What are you up to, God, and what would You have me do?”  Thank you that the call to ministry is not just for those with framed pieces of paper; we are all called, blessed, and sent into the world through baptism.  We are all partners, co-laborers, and singers in the choir of Your composition.  Yet, God, honestly, we like the spotlight and want to be picked for the solo.  We want to be needed and necessary.  We hold in our hearts today all who were impacted on this day, especially those in the Twin Towers, Pentagon, fields of PA, and on planes.  Those in New York City, DC, and across our country, for the sting of pain is real today.  Too often, remembering can be conflated with not forgetting, rather than an active way to see how the past shapes the present.  How violence begets violence, even among us who claim Your love as central.  How we stand divided by politics in addition to economics, gender, race, identity, sexual orientation, where we live, and how we show up.  God, we are not the “we” You call/craft/create us to be.  Help us, God not just claim our faith, but live the light of Your presence each day.  Surround, support, sustain, and send us into our neighbors and communities to be Your people here and now.  Amen.