Some Random Prayers

Dear God,There are some people who need Your help this evening:The very young-looking woman who has been cleaning our hotel room this week told us that her mama "cut me off, so I had to get a job." She has a three year old daughter, and although I didn't ask, I suspect she is a single mom. Maybe she finished high school, but she sure looks young. But of her job, which she's only been doing for about six weeks, she said enthusiastically, "I love my job and I love my co-workers." Then she carefully made up the bed and left fresh towels. Dear God, bless this young woman. Help her not to be doing back-breaking work like cleaning hotel rooms all of her life until she is tired and bitter and broken.The good friend who has been betrayed this week in a rather public way. That is all I will say, God. You know the story, and You certainly know how hateful so-called Christians can be. Soothe my friend's soul and give him peace and courage.The young woman who was in the hotel elevator with us this afternoon, jiggling her foot and leaning against the elevator wall. When my beloved touched her gently and said, "Are you all right?" (she looked very agitated), she replied, "Oh, I'm just so tired." And when we got to the lobby, she said, "But thank you for asking." Give this young woman some hope, oh God, and thank you that someone noticed that another was in distress.Those who live on the margins--those brothers and sisters who have been judged or pushed aside because of who they are, or because they are substance abusers, or because they are "basement people." Send those marginal folks someone who really see them this night, and who accept them, no matter what.Bless the staff who set up coffee, or served lunches, or sold soft drinks, or cleaned up after the conference-goers this week, oh Lord. Most of them were invisible to us. Make them visible to some child of God today, and let them know that we are grateful for their efforts.Bless all those who are willing to stand on the edges of power, who are willing to speak Truth to institutional power, no matter what the cost. Give them voices, oh Lord, and give others the ears to hear what needs to be heard. Bless the Truth-Tellers, God. Bless them.I pray for the repose of the souls who died in the plane crash between France and Egypt, and for the families and friends who are drowning in deep grief this night. I pray that they now feast at Your Table, where all are welcome, and where no one is a stranger.Thank you, God, for your unconditional love and acceptance. Thank you for taking our doubts and concerns into Your heart. Thank you for giving us space to rest and re-create ourselves. Make us again into Your image, so that we can be Your hands and feet and face in this tired, broken, violent world. And help us to have the courage to speak Your truth, regardless of the cost. Amen.