A Prayer For America

On this day dedicated to independence,
I pray that we release our celebration of violence,
And remember that we are made of nobler virtues.
May we recognize our high and holy purpose
That cannot be advanced through bloodshed,
Or fulfilled by hate, greed or fear.
E Pluribus Unum is more than a motto
It is a mission that
Can only be served by daring to love
All of humanity with a tender embrace,
Whispering the words that you, too, are welcome.
May we own our strength without the need to dominate
May we claim our power without the need to polarize
May we know that we were ultimately created
For peace to reign in this beautiful world.
Our character was forged in history's fires,
Which required some tempering and toughening
To defend the cause of liberty.
We can honor the warrior path we have walked
But it is not our true destination;
Rather, it is to finally end the long torment of war,
And arrive at a new beginning:
Our human family reunited
Our precious planet preserved,
With the grace of God blessing all.
Let us lead the way, America,
With peace in our hearts, on our lips and in our hands.
Let us bring that new dawn together.