During the recent Marshall Meyer Retreat on Police-Community Relations, held in Stony Point, NY, the following prayer was offered by Hesham El-Meligy, an interfaith & Staten Island community leader, and a founding member of the Building Bridges Coalition.
Over the past 24 hours, we discussed issues with passion and strong emotions. I don’t know about you, but it made my stress levels elevate…..It was an emotional roller coaster as I kept re-living all that our communities go through…..but also what our law enforcement brothers and sisters go through.
So let’s try to do something about that stress for our wellbeing. Let’s take a minute to meditate. If you like, close your eyes…..and let’s breathe in slowly and deeply — and exhale out slowly and deeply. Another time. One more.
OK…..you can open your eyes now. Hey…who took my keys?
Let us pray.
God of mercy and compassion,
God of love and respect,
God of honor and dignity,
God of empathy and harmony,
We call upon You…in all Your names,
We call upon You…in all Your attributes,
We ask You…as You created us and guided us toward You…to guide us toward each other.
We ask You…to protect our law enforcement sisters and brothers from the dangers of their daily hallenges.
As You created us free and equal…and endowed us with unalienable rights…among them Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,
We ask You…to guide our law enforcement brothers and sisters to how best to serve and protect.
Guide them to preserve our dignity and honor when they serve and protect.
Guide them to abide by the law and refuse to enforce oppressive policies and quotas.
Guide them to look at us as their loved ones and that we look at them as our loved ones.
Guide all those who are entrusted with legislating and enforcing to be genuinely caring and courageous people, who do the right thing, despite all pressures and temptations.
Remove the effect of time, fear, and pain from our bodies, hearts and souls, so we can continue building bridges of understanding and respect.
Give us calmness and serenity…truth and justice…peace and tranquility.
Amen.
