national prayer day

So now it is an issue of prayer for the Congress of the United States, as about two dozen members of Congress condemned a federal judge’s ruling that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional, saying prayer has long been part of the country’s history.

A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled last week that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional because it amounts to call for religious action. The Freedom From Religious Foundation group filed a lawsuit against the federal government arguing the day violated the separation between church and state. Republican Indiana Congressman Mike Pence said “…the American people believe in prayer…they believe that prayer changes things…” In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote that the government can no more enact laws supporting a day of prayer than can it encourage citizens to fast during Ramadan, attend a synagogue or practice magic. Republican Lamar Smith of Texas has introduced a resolution in support of the National Day of Prayer, calling it constitutional and “…a fitting acknowledgment of our nations religious history…”; all Americans, all with a different view on the purpose posture and pomposity of religion in this country.

And so we search for definition in this country, as to how religion matters, makes us mad, minds our business, remains both an obstacle and goal, repudiates rights, and ruminates loudly and clearly to define we versus they. We seem to think brandishing religious banter will make our side better or dismissing non-religious ruffians as rowdy and ragtag demons who destroy democracy.

We define our religion as the correct connection to God. We insist that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian philosophy. We promote morals and ethics based on the New Testament, the Bible, and only recently yet reluctantly include the Book of Mormon and the Koran. We talk the talk but somehow don’t walk the walk when it comes to the ideals and ideas which seem to find ideological wedges and leave us far from shore.

Prayer is fine if that is what you need to calm the waters, find resolve, seek hope and even find a source of salvation from the tedious and tiring traumas of the world. Prayer is fine if it leads you to a path of peace, a source of contentment, a place of positive.

But somehow prayer in this country is not all of glowing gloriosity. It becomes politics, it becomes divisive, it becomes a litmus test of right and wrong, correct and error, good and bad.

Do we pray for the homeless, and then turn those prayers into actions finding legislation to help them with employment, medical care, and housing? Do we pray for the minorities decide through prayer separate is not equal, the color of the skin is just pigmentation, and the sexual preference is not a life style but a life? Do we use prayer for education understanding that diversity is a delight and not devil driven, that we all are difference and in that difference there is actually some commonality? Do we?

I am a spiritual man, I find comfort in the God I in which I choose to pray. Every day for me is a National Prayer Day. Every day I seek comfort and solace.

I get so tired of the word prayer being marketed as one who is holier than thou, that the process of prayer elevates you to a higher place in life, which the action of prayer is more important than the intent to pray.

If we believe in a Higher Power/God/Mother Nature/Science/Life lets start behaving in a manner which makes us less of a hypocrite and more of a human. Lets pray to find a common ground and not a common enemy.