A Sensory Prayer for These Times

I wrote this prayer in 2017. I don't remember what news story prompted it, but I feel like it's always applicable.

Thank you, O Lord, for eyes. Thank you for the ability to see. Help us to see that you have created each of us, no matter how different, in your image. Help us to see it, even when we disagree. Even when we are uncomfortable. Yes, we are all made in your image... All of us. The one who prays... made in your image. The one who marches... made in your image. The one who cries... made in your image. The one who shouts... made in your image. The one with a different skin color, sexual orientation, religion, political vote... made in your image. Help us to see them, Lord, as you see them. As YOURS.

Thank you, O Lord, for ears. Thank you for the ability to hear. Help us to hear - and truly listen. Help us to hear the voices of those who are different. Help us to hear the words of those with whom we disagree. Help us to listen without needing to reply. Help us to listen without trying to change their minds. Help us to listen without having to react. Help us to listen with love. To hear the opinions, the stories, and the hurts of those you have created.

Thank you, O Lord, for noses. Thank you for the ability to smell and breathe. Help us to sniff out injustice, hate, and fear. Help us to sniff out false teachings and bad intentions. And help us to instead send out your peace. And when we are angry, Lord, remind us to breathe. When we are offended, incensed, and outraged... Remind us to breathe... slowly... deeply... Breathe in your love, and breathe out your love. Breathe in your peace, and breathe out your peace. Breathe in your mercy, and breathe out your mercy. Breathe in your grace, and breathe out your grace.

Thank you, O Lord, for hands. Thank you for the ability to touch and to hold. Help us to reach out with our hands to others - with a gentle touch. With a loving touch. Inspire us to touch lives, and hearts, and communities. And instead of picking up weapons, let us pick up your word. Instead of holding onto grudges, let us hold on to each other. Instead of holding onto grudges, let us hold onto each other. Instead of grabbing something to throw, let us grab the hand of someone who is hurting. And let us hold it. Let us hold each other in our hearts. In our prayers. Let us grasp more tightly to you, God, than to hateful rhetoric. Let us cling more tightly to you, God, than to spiteful words. Let us hold more tightly to you, God, than to our news feeds.

Thank you, O Lord, for eyes and ears, for mouths and noses and hands. May we use them to be the body of Christ. May we use them for your glory. May we use them for your good.

Use us.

Amen.

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash