We have a tool that empowers us, the ordinary people in the world, to perform wonders. God promises extraordinary substance to our actions that are filled with Divine Love. We live in a society that lacks promise, lacks depth, and lacks humanity; society is overflowing with individualism, superficiality, and greed.
And what is this empowering tool? PRAYER! God listens; all we must do is listen to and for God’s voice. His response may be hidden unless we open the eyes of our hearts to see. From very personal experience, I know that God opens doors of Hope for us, for all. God hears our anguish, whether spoken or silent. God hears our concerns for others, spoken or not.
I am reminded of what the Scribe writes in Leviticus, “And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God (KJV 19:33-34).”
Are we doing enough for the stranger that knocks on our car window, pleading for assistance? Are we doing enough for our brothers and sisters living under the bridges in our town? We try! Many communities have programs for those in need, but I think we are not doing enough. We look upon these people as “the other,” when in fact they are our family members who have been kicked out of society.
The answer lies in good, clean, affordable housing, jobs paying enough for each to live without assistance, and proper health care. It’s that simple! So, we must act! We must act to welcome these unrealized family members, whether they are in our communities or somewhere else across the world. We cannot do it alone; we need prayer to bring this to fruition. We need prayers for others to act in our efforts to lift these people form poverty and need.
Heavenly Father, Gracious God, open the eyes of our hearts to welcome and care for those of us suffering in poverty, oppression, and invisibility. Help us to ignore our fear of want to bring these forgotten people back into our midst as welcome family.
© Russell Kendall Carter
Meditating to Heal 