Tag: God

God,

Does Egypt matter to you? Does America? Does Israel? Does Kiribati? You care about people, God, and there is confidence you care about peoples, also. But do you care about nations? Do you care about borders? These are man-made constructs; do they concern you much, or at all?

It has been a quiet week in Egypt, God, and we thank you for this. Ramadan has ended, which may open more protests. Sort the good from the bad, God, and honor all who are striving to improve the lot of those they represent, even if wrong. Guide Egypt through the upcoming election season, which nervously intersected with the end of Ramadan – as usual, but perhaps amplified, for good or for ill. These local human efforts touch individual lives at the corner of Main and Elm, or Istiklal and Shuhada. Bless those who work for the improvement of their communities, and curb those motivated solely by ambition.

But what of those at higher levels, God? What of the bankers, financiers, oil barons/sheikhs, media personalities, military generals, and corporate heads around the world? Rumors of these have encircled Egypt from the days of the revolution, and long before. Much has been achieved through simple human bravery. Much has aimed to restore dignity, to help the poor, and to purge corruption. Bless these efforts, God, and the people who have brought them to bear.

Yet is there anything greater at work, God? As there are those who plaster campaign posters, there are those who cast votes at the United Nations. There are those who set interest rates. There are those who determine the nightly newscast. Their daily routines may not rub elbows with an elderly widow or a local grocer, but their decisions fall on thousands like them.

Keep these accountable, God. Preserve their humanity. Give them deep commitment to improve the lives of ordinary people. For whatever system or era or philosophy they guide this world through, may it result in good.

So does it matter, God, if this good is for Imbaba, or for Egypt, or for North Africa, or the Arab world, or the Western world, or the globe as a whole in ever expanding networks of interconnectedness? As some individuals move the lives of a particular back alley, others move the lives of entire continents. All are your creation, God. All have a conscience. Prick the hearts of the great and mighty, as you do the small and humble. May each bear the responsibility you have given, and fulfill their trust.

God, may Egypt, or if better stated the Egyptians, trust you to provide greater than $2 a day, and greater than $1.3 billion a year. In each case, God, you care deeply about both granter and recipient; lift their dignity and provide justice for all. As they trust, and as they cry out, incline your ear. Yet may their trust be wholehearted; may their cries be righteous.

Bring good to this nation, God. Bring good to this people. Bring good to the world.

Amen.  

God,

May there be no such thing as a common enemy. For this to happen, much must change.

Egypt’s neighbor is at fault in many issues. It is right for Egypt to press her, to hold her accountable, and to act from a proper sense of sovereignty. For an enemy to disappear, this neighbor must change, and must change radically.

Yet for an enemy to disappear, much harder change must occur internally. Help Egypt to exercise sober judgment. Help her to avoid assumption, generalization, and demonization. Help her to resist a simple populism that calls on the baser nature of humanity. May Egypt be lifted up so as to be righteous – seeking justice firmly and mercy liberally. May she be both strong and humble.

Yet so much conspires against such transformation, God. Both Egypt and her neighbor have benefited from recent tragic events; both have received distractions from other internal problems. Yet five Egyptian officers remain dead, and security issues in the Sinai threaten Egypt and her neighbor alike. God, thank you that so far, cooler heads have prevailed. Thank you that protests were not overwhelming, and that to some degree they are lessening.

Yet God, we praise you for these protests. We praise you that Egypt may no longer allow affronts to her sovereignty to pass unrecognized. But teach and guide the people, God, to issue their protest honorably. May they seek alternate explanations and the perspective of the other. May they recognize the humanity and position of difficulty faced by those they oppose. May they have wisdom and grace to love their enemy, yet never back down.

God, Egypt is still suffering from its past sins. These do not negate the sins of the neighbor, but they must be atoned for all the same. How hard this must be for Egypt to recognize, yet help her to do so. Provide men who will lead Egypt in the way of peace, and in so doing, rebuke her neighbors in her example.

God, gently rebuke also those who have continued in the old ways, on all sides. Break their chains, free their hearts, and strengthen their resolve. May Egypt’s revolution transform all aspects of her character – overflow her goodness, and mend her flaws.

May Egypt come to love her neighbor, God. May one day that neighbor follow suit. May this love be built on your ultimate justice, but not shirk back in waiting for it. Comfort all those dealing with the pain even of contemplation. God, grant forgiveness. Grant it especially to those who call for it, who know nothing of this pain. Comfort, comfort… but only love can heal. May Egypt come to love her neighbor.

God,

Wisdom is needed now, even more than before. Egypt’s troubles have spilled across the border. Many of them may not even be Egypt’s problems, but it is her border. And now, several Egyptian officers are dead, seemingly at the hand of her much reviled neighbor.

God, give a slow hand to those in authority. Amid the outrage, temper the anger of the people. Silence those who will manipulate events to advance an agenda of rejection, hatred, and violence. Appoint people to discover the truth, and then to act appropriately, with whatever necessary severity. God, prevent escalation. Give people hope that justice will come through civil means. Even as there may be little faith, make this your miracle.

God, the recent events make internal arguments pale in comparison. Yet healing is needed here as well. Political groups came together to endorse principles for the coming constitution, then immediately divided again on their nature as guiding or binding. Activists and political forces came together against military trials for civilians, though the issue has not yet settled. Before the events on the border, much rancor enveloped these divisions. Is it any consolation they may now be lessened, or at least suspended?

Politics is struggle, and unanimity is not imagined. God, may each fight fairly. May each be honest, open, and transparent. Even so, enlarge the spheres of agreement, so these disputes may settle on the details.

But if politics is struggle, war is its dreaded continuation by other means. Most prayer is necessary for disputants beyond the border, God. Grant them the wisdom and forbearance which appears in short supply. Bring peace and justice; bring understanding, trust, and love. Such is an impossible cry, God, but these are your currency. For those unable to pray this in the middle of their conflict, accept it God, from those who can intercede for them. God, you hold the heart of the king in your hand. Turn the hearts of all toward peace.

And for Egypt, God, may these developments not spoil her advancements made. Protect her border; rid her of violent men. Yet protect with more tenacity the goodness of the Egyptian people; may they not turn toward hatred. May they see justice satisfied, and may their hearts cry out to you until it comes. Yet fill them with compassion for the unjust and beg your forgiveness upon them, as upon themselves.

God, protect Egypt. May her next steps set a new tone of diplomacy for the region, and may she be a leader for peace.

Amen.

God,

As people observe their first full week of Ramadan, honor their fasting.

God, sometimes prayers are hard. What can be asked that has not been asked before?  God, bring good to Egypt. Bring freedom and justice. Restore hope. May more and more turn their hope to you, even as they rightly strive, in whatever direction. Protect Egypt from harm. May this nation know your grace, your love, and may this be lived out among the people. There is so much good here, God. Preserve and multiply it.

Where there is sin, God, forgive and redeem it. Where there is division, heal it. Teach Egypt your way, God, and help her to walk in it. Make this nation great, and an example to all. You have given so many blessings so far. May people, this month especially, reflect and give thanks.

Amen.

God,

Thank you that the bloodshed of other nations has been largely avoided in Egypt. Where this bloodshed exists, God, intercede and bring peace, along with justice.

But the absence of bloodshed does not mean peace, necessarily. God, many hearts are hardened toward one another. In such a climate, who can weigh motivations? God, in even the best of climates, only you can weigh them.

Do demonstrators push the envelope too far? Do the authorities push back too hard? Are politicians pushed by the winds of interest? Are the people tired of all the pushing?

God, may it be that each of these pursues their path for the love of Egypt. So many are accused of other motivations; undoubtedly, some are.

God, you can redeem contradictory visions that move in different directions. You can even redeem plans that stem from selfish hearts. Do so, God, and purify all in the process.

Purify also from the excess of speculation. Help people to think; help them to perceive. Enliven their spirits to discern right from wrong. Yet curb the rush to pronounce judgment on limited evidence. Add trust to the process, to sufficient degree.

God, so many believed in the revolution, and many believe still. For others, their faith is being tested. May hearts remain pure, soft, and vulnerable, despite hurts inflicted, or suspected. May forgiveness and grace proceed from all parties. Soften words of insult; harden resolve and accountability.

God, bring justice, now on its biggest stage. The president is not above his crimes; may he meet with appropriate punishment, and escape any undue charges. May the law rule; may there be sanction, and not retribution. Revenge, God, is only for you.

Justice helps the heart, God, but it does not heal it. Bring healing to Egypt; she has suffered much for decades. May truth be established for all to see. May reconciliation end in the embrace of all Egyptians.

Yet so many are still fighting, and that over issues far removed from the national cause. Bless the good nature of the people, as so little violence has occurred in the void of security and the proliferation of weapons. Still, the violence increases; stability is needed. God, protect the people.

There is so much unknown, God, yet a calm of sorts has settled. It may be a false calm, or forced, or exhausted. It may not last. But we pray for progress in this transition; we pray for freedom and dignity and justice. We pray for peace. We pray for the authorities, that they may have wisdom to govern. We pray for the people that they might have courage to press on. We pray for all, that they might love one another. God, your hand is needed. Honor Egypt, God. Keep her on the right path, amidst all her challenges. Make her pure, and keep her so.

Amen.

God,

Is there good from breaking agreements, managing spin, and rejecting the other? Maybe. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated freely today. People. People you love, God. People who are valuable. People who strive to make something of themselves for this world. Honor them, God. Protect them from evil.

Protect Egypt, God. Protect her from manipulations. Protect her from agendas. Protect her from her own children. Protect her from those who claim to represent them.

Times are confusing, God. Perhaps they are dangerous. Perhaps the danger is simply manufactured. Yet in confusing times a rock is needed. God, be that rock for many. May the people fear you. May they love you. May they commit themselves to good for your sake.

But God, today it seems the claim to you only serves to divide. It is more than the claim, it is the vision they have of you. When you are involved, too often complexity is replaced by an undue simplicity. Can things be simple? Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly. God, may we weep over anything more complex than this. All the while, help Egypt engage the complexity she now faces.

So if you have become divisive, God, give people the rock of your image in man. It is a lesser rock, but it is firm. May they people rally around their common humanity. May your grace unite them. May each honor the other. May each love the other. May each, beyond comprehension, seek the interest of the other.

God, can Egypt trust this way? Is this your way? Or must they fight, claw, and elbow for each inch of the public arena? Perhaps you are known in that very arena. Reveal yourself, God, to each one fighting for truth as best they know it. Rebuke each one fighting for that which is selfish, however noble the ends, as best they believe them. Be good to Egypt, God. Be merciful.

You have been so good already. Thank you, and help Egypt to be thankful. Help her to see your hand at work amidst the confusion and complexity. Help peace to come. May there be justice for all. May you be praised.

Amen.

In the Islamic world, Friday is the day of worship. Muslims are called to pray five times daily at regular intervals, but these are allowed to be performed anywhere. Friday, however, around noon, Muslims are expected to gather together to express their communal commitment to God, at which time a sermon is also delivered.

Once gathered together, Friday prayers provide opportunity for activism. At times this can simply reflect social presence, as seen during the revolution. Demonstrators moved from the mosque contra the urgings of most imams. Other times, it can be quite tied to religious fervor. Today, an imam led funeral prayers for bin Laden in absentia, and a few hundred worshippers followed him in demonstration toward the US Embassy. Tomorrow, hopefully, I can provide a report about this, in combination with a Coptic protest which went on simultaneously.

In today’s title, however, I hope instead to focus on my prayers for Egypt. In my head is an idea to place each Friday the text of a prayer reflecting my hopes, worries, and requests for this great country. We’ll see if the commitment holds, but I would invite you to pray along with me. The effort may evolve, as I will need to provide a balance between sufficient detail to inform the prayers, without overwhelming detail on matters mostly foreign. Today represents my first attempt; may God honor the intentions of all who beseech him, however misguided we all may sometimes be.

God,

We are divided in many matters. Each person by nature believes what he does to be right and good. Honor each for their honorable intentions; purge each from their unknown evils; rebuke each for their known compromises. May each consider the interests of the other; may each place your principles as their guide.

Yet Muslims and Christians view these differently. Christians in Egypt are increasingly fearful, and Muslims in Egypt do not understand this fear. Help each to understand the other. Help each to forge purposeful relations with the other. Help each to commit to the good of the other.

Through demonstrations Egyptians have crafted a hopeful revolution. Now through demonstrations a spirit of confrontation continues. Each is due their right; many believe they must fight for it in the ways of this world. May each seek consensus, wherever it may be found, however difficult it is to obtain.

What is your will, God? Should noble Muslims be able to craft a state according to their religious principles? Should they defer to a civil state for the sake of their Christian kinsmen of different religion? Should noble Christians strive for democratic principles in which all enjoy freedom in a secular state? Should they defer to their Muslim kinsmen, trusting in the protection offered them through Islamic scriptures, knowing their kingdom is not of this world?

We are sinful, God, and our nobility is no protection from this. It seems any system will offend some, and every system may be abused by some. Protect us from those who seek their own interests. Yet help us to love and serve them all the same.

One of your creation died this week, God. He was reviled by many, yet respected by many. He was a man of sin, and a man of virtue. Forgive him his sins, God, as you forgive us our sins as well. We all believe we support the right; at times we are terribly mistaken.

Bless Egypt, God. Thank you for preserving her from harm today. Amen.