This post is part of the October 2018 Edition of 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes. I hope you”ll join me in seeing where each prompt takes us.
P.S. Just so you know, I’m finding it difficult to stick to five minutes (**) and it may take me longer than the 31 days to finish all the prompts. Not easy for this rule follower!
You can read more 31 Days entries at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
“Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.’ ” Matthew 12:25 (NIV) / Pixabay
Pray
What a whirlwind weekend I just had! From start to finish it was full of new experiences, sights, sounds, and flavors! My visit to Washington D.C. created memories I’ll treasure for a life time!
To be honest, I was surprised by the overwhelming emotion I felt standing in the shadow of the Washington Monument and at the foot of Abraham Lincoln. Tears filled my eyes as I observed and listened to the Veterans touring the World War II and Korean War Memorials alongside me. Seeing the White House and the Capital filled me with a sense of awe to think of all who’d served there and the accomplishments they’ve made. Being in our Nation’s Capital stirred something up within me. ** Pride? Hope? Gratitude? A combination of all three and so much more.
Standing in the midst of fellow sightseers, I heard many different languages being spoken, noticed the varied styles of clothing, and the array of ages and races represented. In those moments, I envisioned an elaborate mosaic: many unique, diverse elements that when brought together create a beautiful work of art. I loved the thought of it but then it occurred to me, that focusing on all that divides our country is way too easy in today’s world of fake news and social media. So much so, that we often forget who and what have been sacrificed to protect our very right to disagree. And sadly, what we also seem to have forgotten is that we can still be kind to one another even if we have opposing viewpoints.
All too often, it seems we do place our focus on the different pieces, so what might happen if we tried building a masterpiece instead? And there’s no better way to do that, than going straight to the Master!
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior,” 1 Timothy 2:1-3a (NIV)
Yes, we are a diverse people, but here’s the thing… our stance on an issue, the party we identify with, which candidates we support, our backgrounds and beliefs…are all pieces that prayer can bring together. We don’t have to see eye to eye to pray. If instead of arguments, debates, belittling, and complaining we offered “petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving” for others and our country imagine what could be created!
On the wall of the Lincoln Memorial are engraved these words:
“With malice toward none with charity for all. With firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in. To bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan-To do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
~Abraham Lincoln
“To bind up” or bring together the array of our many pieces doesn’t seem to be easy for us, but placed in the Master’s hand those pieces can work in unison to result in the cherished work of art of lives lived in peace. Let’s pray for that now!
