God, source of all life, you have sustained me through every water source I’ve ever known. The free-flowing-power of water, both nourishing and damaging in turn, heightens my awareness of how similar humanity is in its own responses. We can bring relief and strength. We can satisfy needs an encourage growth. When our work for peace, justice, mercy and restoration flows like a mighty stream, hope blooms like flowers in the desert.
We, your people, can also be like water at its most vicious. We dry up sources for aid and safety. We let situations in need of reparations languish, parched. We undercut the banks of systemic change and allow hurtful practices to flood the land. We swamp the voices of those who call out from the margins. We disregard those who seek safety on other shores.
God of Fresh Water, create clean hearts in us – hearts that long to be part of your will done on earth as in heaven. Lord of Salty Seas, grant us the courage and the will to turn away from the habits that thwart or undo your divine desire for creation. Amen.
This message is excerpted from “Source of all life” by Julia Seymour in the March/April 2024 Gather magazine.
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