COVID-19, Climate Change, & the Call for Racial Justice
To whom it may concern:
We are calling on the Universe, Spirit, Source, and Supreme Beings of all the world’s religions. We Earthlings are suffering and need your help.
A global pandemic, extreme hurricanes, and raging wildfires have us in fear for our safety and the future of the planet. Extremist politics, fanatical leaders and populist uprisings have us worried about the future of democracy. Violent shootings of unarmed Black and Brown people have awakened our understanding of the intractable systemic racism that devastates the heart and soul of our humanity.
We are overwhelmed, exhausted, and grieving. We know that a great transformation is needed and we want to play our part. But it all feels so much bigger than us. Some days we have trouble getting out of bed. Some days we want to bury our heads in the sand. Some days we just want to give up. We need your guidance to show us a path forward.
Grant us compassion to care for ourselves and one another. Grant us hope that we can make the changes necessary for a more just and equitable world. Grant us wisdom to know our part and let the rest flow back to the Universe. And grant us strength to do the work that we have been called to do.
We pray for the families and friends of more than 800,000 people who have died of COVID-19. Let us not forget that the ravages of this pandemic fell most heavily on our Black, LatinX, and Indigenous brothers and sisters — those who perform essential services, those who live in overcrowded conditions without access to adequate health care. Let us not rest until they are fully valued for their contributions. Let us fight for more equitable wages, housing, and health care for all.
We pray for those who have lost their lives, their homes, and their livelihoods to natural disasters. Let us not forget that climate change has accelerated the number and extremity of natural disasters around the globe. When we humans were forced to take a break from our over-consumption, the plant and animal kingdom began to reappear in their natural habitats. Let us take that lesson to heart and commit to conserving and replenishing our planet’s natural resources.
We pray for the victims of police brutality and mass shootings. We pray for healing for their friends and families. Let us not forget that systemic racism is deeply embedded in our history, our institutions, and our collective consciousness. Let us make a commitment to finally unlearn the legacy of hatred and oppression and to stand as allies to our Black and Brown brothers and sisters. Let us recognize that eliminating racism is essential for our own liberation and the uplifting of all humanity.
We pray for parents who struggle to home school their children while juggling jobs and other responsibilities. We pray for teachers who brave their fears to go to their classrooms and teach our children. We pray for children who trust us to keep them safe and provide opportunities for the future. We pray for families torn apart at the border, kids left hungry and afraid in cages, parents deported back to their countries never to see their children again. Let us not forget that immigrants formed the backbone of this country, that they provide the labor to care for our children and our elders. Let us not forget that all the children of the world hold the future of the planet in their hands.
We pray for our elected and appointed leaders. May they find the wisdom and compassion to put the collective good above their own interests. Let us not forget that this imperfect democracy is still a grand experiment which could fall prey to the tyranny of dictators if we do not stand vigilant. Let us put partisan division aside in the interests of collaborative leadership that serves our highest good.
All this we pray with humility, gratitude for all that we have been given, and faith in your abundant love. And so it is.
