Faith Works 8-22-20
Jeff Gill
A prayer for August and education
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Most merciful and loving God,
O Lord, we come in prayer as we so often do, after having tried everything else we can think of. So we ask to ease up our frantic imaginings, to sooth our troubled and contentious souls, and to come to you for the peace that only you can give.
Almighty One, you have given us life and breath and hope. We may be creaking a bit as we get up, and wish we were in better shape, and have trouble imagining what hope would look like right now, but in fact, in truth, in thankfulness, we know that this is where we are today. We have choices and opportunities ahead and we would ask your intercession to help us choose wisely and well.
It is the time of year, Creator God, when the heavens and the earth show the slowly gathering end of long days and summer heat, even though there's enough hot days ahead in September, we know; it is during this change of seasons that so many of us are accustomed to a shift in schedules for schools. Whether we are in classes ourselves, parents or family of students, or just citizens waiting behind school buses, we all feel the pressures and challenges in large ways and small of what we call "back to school."
But it's the question of back to what that has us troubled, Lord of life, God of our past, present, and future. We see in our worship and prayer and communion with you a source of familiar patterns and tried and true traditions, forgetting you are also God of whirlwinds and behemoths, still small voices after storms and rainbows after floods. We ask that you give us more of what we're used to, nervously aware that the Bible tells us this only describes a small part of your divine nature.
From age to age you are the same, O Lord, but your created order can be melted down, crushed flat or rumpled and shaken up, and so too with our days. In our span of three-score and ten or even more, we will see ages and eras that are major changes within our own lives, and there is nothing even in Ecclesiastes to tell us exactly when there's a time or a season for what we'd like to see happen next. Whichever comes next is an event which can fit securely within your supportive hand, and we can have confidence that we rest in your everlasting arms, yet we still don't know how to cope.
Wise counselors tell us, Gracious God, that when we're in a state such as this, the best thing we can do is pray for others. So that's what we're here to do.
For students who are trying to make the most of the education that is there for them, in school or online: Lord, hear our prayer. As in any system, the weight is on the one who seeks to learn, to be open and engaged and listening, so may each learner find those gifts within themselves.
For families who have to support new and different ways than we're any of us used to, in being part of the education of someone else, whether our child or grandchild or neighbor kid or wherever: Lord, hear our prayer. May we all find ways to bless one another as we are so much more aware now of how any learning is a community process.
For teachers whose frustrations must always be kept off screen, in the classroom or on video, whose passion for educating and illuminating brought them into their vocation often without much interest in technology at all: Lord, hear our prayer. We ask that their wifi signal not drop, the case counts stay low enough to make classroom engagement possible even with masks on everyone, and for all the devices to not try to update at the worst possible time.
For staff and administration who have seen so many changes coming down from the state and federal authorities to influence how they do their job, and now have to contend with health department guidelines and governor press briefings: Lord, hear our prayer. Bless them as they find a way forward, as they have, and as they will continue to do, because that is their sincere desire.
And for us all, as we are mindful that prayerful, thankful, personal engagement is needed to keep all forms of education part of our community: Lord, hear our prayer. Help us to forgive and forbear and be fruitful in all that we do that reminds us, as did James's letter, that all light comes from above. Illumine us, O Lord, as we ask these things.
Amen!
Jeff Gill is a writer, storyteller, and preacher in central Ohio; he's been praying for education for some time, but now in new ways. Tell him how you pray for schools and schooling at knapsack77@gmail.com, or follow @Knapsack on Twitter.
