Donna Vande Kieft
The political landscape has undergone major shifts in July/August! Continuing our thoughts and actions toward peacemaking, consider with me what new thing is attempting to be birthed in this upheaval. Clarity is often born out of chaos.
Today’s retirees were not raised with Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) being prime values. At least not where I grew up. Ours was a time of discrimination against people who were different, men were the leaders, and the voices of poor people, minorities, and women were often not considered or included. Times have changed!
Women and men must be creative and resourceful in working together for the greater good of our country, our world, our communities, and our homes. Young people and women are good at peacemaking. Maybe it’s time to listen to the voices of all people everywhere.
Women have been running things behind the scenes since the beginning of time. And here we still are gifted with God’s goodness and abilities to make the world a better place. Men and women, working together, making a difference for all God’s children. This non-partisan, interfaith prayer is offered as a template for us to step into our role as peacemakers, seeking divine wisdom and guidance.
A Prayer for Leadership
Give us, O God,
leaders whose hearts are large enough
to match the breadth of our own souls
and give us souls strong enough
to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.
In seeking a leader, let us seek
more than development for ourselves—
though development we hope for—
more than security for our own land—
though security we need—
more than satisfaction for our wants—
though many things we desire.
Give us the hearts to choose
the leader who will work with other leaders
to bring safety to the whole world.
Give us leaders
who lead this nation to virtue
without seeking to impose
our kind of virtue
on the virtue of others.
Give us a government
that provides for the advancement
of this country
without taking resources from others
to achieve it.
Give us insight enough ourselves
to choose as leaders those who can tell
strength from power,
growth from greed,
leadership from dominance,
and real greatness
from the trappings of grandiosity.
We trust you, Great God,
to open our hearts to learn
from those to whom you speak
in different tongues
and to respect the life and words
of those to whom you entrusted
the good of other parts of this globe.
We beg you, Great God,
give us the vision as a people
to know where global leadership truly lies,
to pursue it diligently,
to require it to protect human rights
for everyone everywhere.
We ask these things, Great God,
with minds open to your word
and hearts that trust in your eternal care.
Amen.
This prayer by Joan Chittister is available as a free download online through the store at joanchittister.org. Reprinted with permission from Benetvision.
Rev. Donna Vande Kieft is an ordained minister, retired hospice chaplain, advocate, and peacemaker.