A prayer for this Inauguration Day

It seems that history will be made today.  Since 1937 and the inauguration of President Roosevelt, January 20th has stood on the calendar as the time when power changes hands here in these United States of America. It is Inauguration Day. And because we live in “the land of the free and the brave”, a country where men and women have died protecting our right to freedom of speech, we can openly say how we feel about this day, January 20, 2017.

And we have.

We Americans have voiced our opinions loud and clear from both sides of the aisle. Some people are celebrating. Some are boycotting. Some are marching and standing up for what they believe to be good and true and right. And some are just hanging out on the sidelines, watching;  perplexed by the whole thing.

But mostly, no matter where we come down on the political spectrum of this day, the underlying truth is that we find ourselves anxious about what lies ahead. 

We are anxious about how these coming days are going to unfold; about the future of our country, our families, our places. This anxiety seeps in between the words of the articles written and the jokes told. It leaps over the news anchors’ desks and weaves its way into our scrolling newsfeeds. It makes us question and worry and wonder. Because we just don’t know what is to come.

So for today, for our United States of America and for those everywhere looking out at the unknown circumstances of ordinary days … just this prayer …

Dear Lord,

On this day as the world watches power peacefully change hands, may “we the people” pause and take that in for just for a minute. May we stop and be grateful for a country where this happens. But may we also remember your hands, Lord. Hands that formed the heavens and the earth. And us. Hands that strengthen and hold and bear the scars of our sins right in their palms. And oh Lord, may we learn not to trust so much in the people who hold the power, but come to trust in the power of the One who holds the people.

And on this Inauguration Day, Lord, help us learn to listen. First to you and then to each other. Quiet the noise that keeps us from hearing your voice.

The Bible tells us of Elijah, a prophet in the Old Testament. Elijah fled for his life because he was the last prophet left and everyone wanted him dead. He was anxious for many things as the future loomed ominously out in front of him.

But Lord, you sent him to the edge of the mountain to hear from you. There was earthquake, wind, storm and fire, all that came to pass as Elijah stood waiting and unsure. But you, Lord, were not in those things.  And then this. “After the fire came a gentle whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and he went out and stood at the mouth of the cave” (1 Kings 19:12-13).

The word of the Lord; the gentle whisper of the most powerful. The Creator communing with the created. May we come to know that. May we come to know that peace; that intimacy with you. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Help us to push through all that distracts and overwhelms us so that we can come to the edge of the cave and hear the whisper of our Creator who reminds us,

“Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). 

And then, may we turn to our neighbor, our neighbor who might be for something we are against, who might rejoice over something we protest, or march when we cheer, but who is still our neighbor, created in the image of you, Lord. And may we share that peace.

Remind us that while on this Inauguration Day we do give the power of the White House to the next president, you and you alone hold the ultimate power of heaven and earth in your hands.

And yet you whisper.

You whisper, love, and hope and joy and peace to those who humble themselves and bow to hear your voice. May “we the people” become ones who learn do this as we walk into this new season.

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and turn and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Amen!