Thoughts and Prayers. For Real.

Hearing about someone’s generic “thoughts and prayers” during tragic, national violence has become as routine and expected as the violence itself. Such acts are often dismissed because we rarely actually hear the prayer. Tonight, I share with you mine:

Loving and gracious God,

Thank you for protecting former President Trump yesterday and for keeping most of the people gathered in Butler, PA safe from harm. We all deserve to live in a country where we can gather and express our views without fear of violence, intimidation, or death.

Please comfort those who are shaken by this horrific event, especially those at the rally who personally witnessed this tragic moment and for the families who lost a loved one. I pray for peace to guide us all.

For those speaking out against this heinous act, please open their hearts to feel the same grief, outrage, and moral call to action when the victims are children in school classrooms, concert attendees, moviegoers, parade watchers, grocery shoppers, or people gathered for prayer in houses of worship.

Far too often, these horrific moments only get generic “thoughts and prayers.”

These lives matter as much as a president’s.

Oh Lord, I keep hearing in these past 24-hours, “This is not America.” But I know you hang your head in sorrow at the ugly truth: it most certainly is America 2024. We are one of the most violent nations on this planet. And we need your help and intervention to win hearts and minds if we are ever to collectively come together to change it.

To make America great again, I pray that we return to a day where communities live in peace knowing that their neighbors are not armed with militarized weapons that they can use to exact revenge on their grievances.

You teach us, God, that with important rights come even greater responsibilities.

Call forth our better angels in this moment when our country needs to find a pathway to deeper connection that will both quell the violence and find meaningful solutions to keep us safe.

The greatest risk we face as a nation is our vast political polarization. We don't trust each other anymore. We have lost touch with the essence of our humanity: our common struggles and shared dreams.

But remind us, Creator, that We Are One in your image.

My prayers for my fellow Americans are

• that we come together as a people to disrupt the division and create authentic connection;
• that we use words with the knowledge of their power; that we create spaces where everyone belongs;
• that we lead with courage and disarm with compassion;
• that we are driven by service and served by purpose;
• that we encourage vulnerability as a source of strength;
• that we root ourselves in honesty, integrity, reciprocity and unity;
• that we choose love over fear and speak uncomfortable truths;
• that we believe in the goodness of the human spirit and the magnitude of the human heart;
• and that we rise above partisanship to forge consensus, to make progress, and to deliver results for the common good.

 In your loving wisdom and guidance, may it be so.