canticle 72

give our leaders justice,
God of mercy;
not the justice which
seeks revenge, or condemns
others simply for who they are
or where they come from, but
that justice which lifts
the fallen to their feet,
which offers food to the hungry,
hope to the despairing.

give our leaders time,
God of every moment:
not those moments
to enrich themselves
or those closest to them,
not hours of self-adulation
or basking in cult-like cheers,
but days of service to others,
seeking the best for those they don't know,
leaving a legacy of kindness not indifference.

give our leaders awareness,
God of imagination:
so they might listen
and be willing to change their minds;
to see the struggles creation faces
and to set aside politics
in order to end all that damages
the gifts of all life around us.

give our leaders compassion,
God of the broken:
to care for the vulnerable
more than they do victory laps;
to notice the poor
more than they do polls;
to seek peace every chance given
rather than send troops at the drop of a hat.

give our leaders hope,
God of the open heart;
give our leaders grace,
God of endless wonder;
give our leaders humility,
God who became one of us:
so we may respect them
as servant leaders of all,
so we may join them
in being just, open communities,
so be may remember them
as those who were transformed
by your goodness and mercy
not by the shifting winds
of political fortune.

and we will bless you,
God of every place,
for the gifts of leaders
who bring the blessings
of grace, hope, peace, and love
to the people they serve.

(c) 2020 Thom M. Shuman