Yesterday, March 26, I was
afforded the honor of praying at the beginning of the session of the Minnesota
State Senate. I offered this prayer:
God of all peoples, intricate weaver of the
web of life, seeker of justice and pursuer of peace: Here we are in this state
which those who came before us called L’Etoile
du Nord – the star of the North. It is an audacious statement, O God. Yet you call we human beings to the high
calling of moral grandeur and spiritual audacity, to use the wise words of
Abraham Joshua Heschel. You call us to
do justice and nurture kindness. You
call us to pursue peace and seek freedom.
You call us to create beauty and tend the earth wisely. You call us to recognize our sister and our
brother in every one we meet, and to see in each person something of your
image. You call us to live with a certain
humility and with compassion. May we,
today, in this deliberative body, hear your call again. Grant us determination, courage, and
imagination to respond to your call. May
our work this day help our state shine more brightly with the light of justice,
shine more brightly with the light of freedom, shine more brightly with the
light of compassion. With moral grandeur
and spiritual audacity, today let us pursue our calling to be L’Etoile du Nord. Amen.
