A FRANCISCAN PRAYER

A FRANCISCAN PRAYER:

Man God bless you with discomfort

at easy answers,

half-truths,

and superficial relationships

so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger

at injustice,

oppression,

and exploitation of people,

so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears,

to shed for those who suffer

pain, rejection, hunger, and war,

so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference in the world,

so that you can do what others claim cannot be done,

to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

A Prayer Following the Murder of George Floyd

Lord,
may I kneel with,
pray with,
cry with
those who are
hurting,
fearful,
dying,
unheard,
oppressed,
broken.
May I be a
bringer of peace,
a vessel of hope,
a light to those in darkness,
an encouragement to the downtrodden.
Though I may not understand the plight of others,
grant me the eyes of compassion to see the pain of others.
In my comfort, may I not plug my ears to injustice.
May my anger be just, and not self-righteous.
May I never think my rights are more important than what is right.
Break my heart with the things that break Yours.
May I be a person of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
May I be more like Jesus.
Amen ~ ~ ~ sw