Prayers Only Work When We Listen To Reason
Sometimes prayer just isn’t enough. Even where two or more or a multitude have gathered.
It’s not that heaven isn’t listening…it hears everything, even those things you don’t want it to hear.
Those of us who’ve prayed for our leaders are aware that in this era of governance, it takes more than prayers. It takes reason. And it takes a populace that responds to reason by acting on it.
Maybe I should stop thinking about how this world is evolving. Maybe it’s pointless to sit in the stew of all we’re allowing to pass…or pray for those who welcome this darkness: as normal, acceptable, even desirable—though it’s clearly brutish, unconscionable, irreparable, and ungodly.
Prayer in the absence of reason is cultish and hollow. If we could apply reason to what’s unfolding before us, we might have a genuine change of heart.
For instance, we might ask if it’s reasonable for a president, any president, to silence a reporter and call her piggy in front of the world. We might then ask if it’s reasonable that the vast majority of news commentators were good with lowering the bar and brushing his misogynistic outburst aside.
I wonder…
Is it reasonable for our president to continue to break federal laws and snub judges’ orders without consequence? Do laws even matter anymore? Or should they only matter when members of the other party commit crimes, or when we, the powerless, do?
Is it reasonable for the American president to extend full, ceremonial, red carpet treatment for his old pal, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—whose members of his own security team were accused of killing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi? Well, to repeat Trump’s words, “These things happen.”
Yes, these things are happening in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean lately, with 83 criminal, extra-judicial killings during 21 airstrikes on civilians. Is this reasonable, too?
When people are struggling every day to afford food, housing, and healthcare, is it reasonable for the president to spend up to 2 billion in taxpayer dollars just to rename the Department of Defense the “Department of War”?
Is it reasonable for our president to enrich himself and his family—to the tune of billions of dollars in this year alone—through his “let’s make a deal,” pay-to-play schemes that trade America’s future in exchange for his personal gain?
Is it reasonable for this president to strap his brain exclusively to his obsessive need to perpetuate his grandiosity through an “Arc de Trump,” a redo of the White House in his image, or a seeding of his hotels, golf resorts, and now a $TRUMP meme coin in the darkest corners of the world—all the while slamming and branding Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene as “Marjorie Traitor Greene?”
Is it reasonable for the “leader of the free world” to declare that 6 Democrats are guilty of sedition and deserving of death for urging public servants to refuse illegal orders?
Is it reasonable for any of us to pretend this president cares about anyone other than himself and the elite he clearly protects?
Is it reasonable for any of us to stand by as this president continues to wield his corrupt predilections as a bone saw to dismember our nation’s cherished values, ordering more ICE agents to shoot pepper balls at clergy and other peaceful protesters?
We can all pray for better days. But we should also reason clearly with what “better” should look like—not just for us, but for the next generation and beyond.
Slipstream
It's unconscionable what's going on in the government today. Every day I pray for better days and ask, “What can I do to make things better?” It's all I know to do for now.
Evangel
It's tragic that we have to ask this question. In many ways, we know there is a pervasive lack of sanity in our country. It's confounding and often immobilizing...especially when the government is part of that problem and fully incapable of solving our issues. It's up to us now.
Present Valley
Your post is relevant and accurately captures what we're being exposed to and encouraged to accept as reasonable.
I have no words really. I pray every day for this chaos, cruelty and inhumane treatment of people by our government to stop. At the same time there is a part of me that does believe this is an important part of our evolution as a country and as humans...the path forward to the better.
I know there is little I can do in a big way to influence "them." Daily in a small way I can make a difference with the people I come in contact with.
I don't think it is naive or Pollyannish to believe that small things such as being kind, patient, supportive, considerate, loving and treating fellow human beings as people who matter... makes a difference.
Thank you for your post.
Evangel
I agree that this is an evolution that's necessary. So much of what's wrong has been hidden for so long...it's out in the open now and we're going to hit bottom. When that happens, things might get fixed and made a whole lot better. Meanwhile, being a light toward others is all any of us can hope to do.
Well Street
It seems there's a parallel between mass shootings and Trump's unreasonable and unbelievable actions. The sheer volume in which both occur has, tragically, made it easier for the public to become desensitized to them. I admit to being guilty of this.
In 2017, the group Depeche Mode released a song called "Where's The Revolution?", where singer Dave Gahan asks why people aren't rising to protest the many injustices in the world, including Americans pushing back against Trump's legislative efforts. I imagine many countries' leaders and citizens who see what's happening here are wondering, "Where's the revolution?"
Evangel
The revolution is happening and it's a devastating kind of revolution--not one we want. The counterrevolution is not yet organized, it's mostly gut reaction, but that kind of passion and action ultimately wins out.