08/20/2009 - Daily Prayer

This summer the California Museum is celebrating the 200th birthday of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. In these days where civility seems so often to be lacking in our public discourse, we have much to learn from President Lincoln, who even during our most acrimonious times was dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to our nation.
In an address on October 16, 1854, President Lincoln said: ". . . let all Americans-let all lovers of liberty everywhere-join in the great and good work. If we do this," he said, "we shall not only have saved the Union; but we shall have so saved it, as to make, and to keep it, forever worthy of the saving. We shall have saved it, that the succeeding millions of free happy people, the world over, shall rise up, and call us blessed, to the latest generations."
We pray to the Creator of us all that we might act in such a way that we will be remembered as not just lovers of liberty, but defenders of it. May our tongues be guided with kindness and wisdom. May our hearts and minds be open to beliefs different than our own. And may the work we do now be remembered until the last generation as a blessing.
May this be God`s will.-AMEN.