A Prayer for Unity (Lisa)

Today, I’m pondering the word unity. What is contained in this gift Lord? You’ve filled us up with it, and yet we long for it, pray for it. Is it sameness or more cohesiveness? Does it necessitate oneness or is it more congruence?

I pray and envision the sedimentary rock hugging the interstate on our travels north to Elmira, NY, a colorful painting, layer upon layer, of different shades and textures becoming one body. Beautiful. I ponder the kind of pressure placed on these individual rocks that agreed to lay side by side, of the time needed to become one, achieving the unity now exposed in this beautiful sheer. I see the hard undulating waves formed from forces greater than themselves pushing them up and then down but moving together, in harmony finally.

We stand as raw material laid bare before you Lord. Rubble. Life has placed great pressure on each of us and our response to it is as unique as we are. Help us to agree, if only to stand side by side as we call on You by your many names. Speak to the varying shades of us as we lay down in peace beside each other not as an emulsion of sameness but as an intricate layering of both rough and smooth, browns and beige, reacting and responding, dealing with, processing, coming to terms, and ultimately healing in our own way. Open every eye so that we may see the harmony of differences, celebrating this many layered family, the painted picture of our unity. Help us do our best on this day while holding on to the healing promise of time, the slow work of God’s hand. Amen