A Poem, A Prayer

Dear Lord

As I seek to grow in your Love & Faith,

And find spirituality and goodness in the world around me.

Let me learn from the humble, the meek and the peacemakers.

Let me learn of your greatness in however you are,

Male or Female, in your Godly form

Or Nature’s spirits

Of ancestors or Mother Earth.

Let me question those who would bring me man’s truth

And not Your own.

Let my ears be closed to those whose church spread the globe

Because they had invented sail and musket.

Or branded darker skin on Caribbean plantations,

Carving up the continent which birthed humanity.

Let me beware of those who fought wars in your name,

And represent you through uniforms in church

That honour parade grounds and institutionalised pain,

Yet they teach me your Son was of absolute peace.

Let me learn of churches and faiths closer to you

Whose meaning has been trodden by centuries of oppression

And devalued to labels of evil by those who do not now dwell in heaven.

Teach me of churches carved in rock in East Africa,

Of indigenous spirituality stripped from my own people

That still blesses those who have been divided and ruled

But whose Faith is maintained.

For whatever form is your Great Mystery,

Let me learn to live my life by your Divine teachings,

And not by those who would describe your Son

As the same colour as my light self.

I seek your Truth, your Wisdom, your Guidance,

From You and your Disciples

Wherever they should be found.

Amen.