It is difficult to pray for the man who we now have to call president. Really difficult. But we should because he is a fellow human being, after all. But what does that prayer look like? I wish that I could glibly reply like the rabbi in “The Fiddler on the Roof,” “May God bless and keep the czar (president)… far away from us.” But I can’t. Instead I can pray that he is in good health and hope that he decides to be more humane.
If you can’t pray for him yet or prayer doesn’t quite work for you, then act. Acting is difficult, but in this situation, I think it is easier because it is simpler.
There are a few articles going around on social media about what you can do about the ridiculous, unjust, terrifying executive orders. Read them. Think about them. Call and/or write your senators. Donate to the Safe Passage Project and/or Kal Penn’s Crowdrise compaign (https://www.crowdrise.com/donating-to-syrian-refugees-in-the-name-of-the-dude-who-said-i-dont-belong-in-america?utm_donation=b7418d588e3972e61934d07341037&utm_platform=fb&utm_device=mobile&utm_source=donate-cr).
Humanity acts us to act justly and have mercy. The god of Christians, the god of Jews, the god of Muslims (the same God, whichever name or book is used) calls us to unite, do justice and have mercy. It calls us to feed and love the outcast and the unwelcome. It calls us to cease divisions.
Looking back at the history of my blog, I see that most of my posts were about books and writing. But this blog, like me, has changed. While I am still passionate about literature, I am also becoming increasingly passionate about social justice. Last week, I applied to a couple social work graduate programs. One of the applications asked me to define social justice and write about my commitment to it. While I didn’t like writing it, it made me appreciate those who have helped turned the tide for good and those today who are also committed to it.
May I do the same. I hope you will join me.
“What shall I bring to the Lord?”
Will He require something special from me?
Oh, what shall I bring for a King?
I could bring riches, power, now is the hour to lift our voices and sing…
But hear what the Lord says:
Do justice, have mercy… and walk humbly with your God…
What shall I bring to the Lord?”
– “What Shall I Bring to the Lord,” a choral anthem by Robert C. Lau, based on Micah 6: 6-8