As I have been preparing
to go and participate in a National Day of Prayer event in Courtland, MS, I have
begun to reflect on what exactly I need to be prayerful over. The truth is that there are so many things I
know need prayer… our government, our schools, our leadership (national and
local), the men and women of our armed forces, the souls in Texas who are
reeling from a devastating disaster, the people of Boston who are dealing with
the aftermath of terror in their midst, victims of earthquakes and other
natural disasters… the list just goes on and on. I have trouble deciding where to begin. It is daunting and a little on the
overwhelming side.
I am also aware that in
the midst of my prayers for these things I, and so many others, can begin these
prayers as if we are decreeing before God what is wrong with creation like God
is unaware; and we are asking for God’s judgment in all of these situations
when we are directly involved to one degree or another in the advancement of
the trouble in this world. It is more than a
little disconcerting to realize that I, a pastor and spiritual leader, a self-declared
follower of the Christ, may have any part of the mess that we look around and
see. But I have to begin with the admission
that I am as guilty of sin as anyone else in creation.
