Deus Misereatur

  I was asked to fulfill my civil duty on Monday (4 December). No, I didn’t have jury duty, but I was asked to open the Oklahoma County Commissioners’ meeting with a prayer. I say it was my civil duty because (1) the commissioners invited me, and (2) I had to pay the $4 for my parking fee (plus $3 more dollars to get cash from the ATM at the parking lot to pay the fee). I really enjoyed the opportunity and was treated very courteously and with a warm welcome from all three county commissioners. I thought I would walk you through what happened.   After Mr. Myles Davidson, District 3, introduced me by reading my bio from our church website (which mentions my military service), he invited me up to come to the podium to pray.   I began with, “This is what the sacred Scriptures of Christians and Jews says, “The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne”” (

  O Lord God, unlike us in your very being, unlimited by space, unrestrained by time, untouched by mortality, and unmarred by sin; yet you made us to bear and reflect your image in some way so that we might have warm communion with you! And even more, after our open rebellion you sent your Son who became as full-bloodedly and full-bodily human as we are to bring us back into communion with you! What an astounding thought! O Lord, we adore you and thank you! In grateful communion with you we plead with you for the world and the Church. Look upon the nations of this world, including our own country. See all of the spite, insurrections, commotions, mayhem, wars, droughts, flooding, wild-fires, government-approved barbarity, orchestrated impoverishments, socially sanctioned human-sex-and-drug trafficking, as well as tribal and racial bigotry. We implore you to steer, steady and stabilize all nations; restore and renew sound justice; bring substantial relief; provide help to the orphaned, h