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A Dove in a Time of Turbulence
Good Evening, God!
We live in a Time of Turbulence . . . but then most Times are turbulent. Yesterday, I was listing 20 things I wanted to “work on,” and the last one became: “Build more Silence into your day.” That was not from me!
So, when I went out to do my jog, I took my headphone but did not start listening to a book. I chugged along — in silence. Then I thought, I’ll pray for President Putin of Russia! I remember my dear friend and mentor, Marge T., telling me to pray that people would be “surrounded by God’s Love,” so that’s what I prayed for — for Putin.
Being led to do this wasn’t all that surprising. What did surprise me was my next thought– that maybe Russia should become part of the European Union! Was that thought from You, God?
In the midst of all the current ongoing “nationalist fervor,” that idea seems impossible. But, then I thought: Russia should at least be invited. They should be wanted. Do we not realize: Countries often behave very much like individual humans?
We all want to be respected. People who feel disrespected often end up doing dreadful things. Disrespect is only one strand leading to Turbulence. Other strands are: Scapegoating and Projecting our faults onto others; Systematically Demeaning groups of people; and confusing Invasion with Protection.
Sigh. The We/Them Divide is so pernicious.
Well, I’m rambling — probably because I don’t want to admit that I have not prayed for the Assad Brothers in Syria.
Go DO IT, You say. Sigh.
Well, I just did. And I am convicted of my need to pray daily for those in authority — over us, and over others. Fruitful Prayer is not always Easy Prayer. It takes faith. And to pray for peace? That takes a lot of faith.
Please help us!
Filed under: Faith, Peace, Prayer, respect, responding to God's Spirit, responsibility Tagged: disrespect, Faith, peace, Prayer, Praying for those in authority, projecting, turbulence Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
