This article was first Published on 01/16/2013 02:46 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/president-obamas-ideal-inaugural-benediction_b_2481579
One of the many roles of a president is to shape and nurture the direction of the nation, and President Obama has been a good shepherd. Indeed, he is committed to building an America, where each one of us becomes a nurturer to the other, and eventually, each strand in the web of our society will coalesce in building our nation to function cohesively. The president’s wisdom is crystal clear, “We rise and fall together as one nation.”
Our nation has come a long way in fulfilling our immortal declaration, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Indeed, it was the consent of an overwhelming majority of gays and lesbians, Native and African Americans, women and men, Hindus and Muslims, atheists and Wiccans, Hispanics and Pagans, and others that the president derives his powers from, and he has the mandate to shape an inclusive America.
We are yet to be truthful to our own pledge — that we are “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Our benediction should strongly reflect the sentiment of oneness of our nation under God, and shed our hypocrisies of excluding fellow Americans even in our national prayers.
Please join me with your affirmative Amens to each sentiment of the benediction.
Dear causer of the universe. please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you including; Mahio, Manito, Yahweh, Elohim, Allah, Ishwar, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, Mother Earth and Jesus Christ.
Dear Creator, thank you for enriching our nation with people from different races, nationalities, ethnicities, orientations, languages, cultures and religions.
Dear God, together as Americans, we see you as one, none and many; we see you as male, female and genderless; we take you as a being as well as nonbeing; you are nameless to some of us and multiple names to others; and together, we believe we are one universe, one people and one humanity.
Dear God, in your name we want to create a cohesive and peaceful America with care, kindness and dignity to every one of the 312 million of us, as well as 7 billion of us in the world.
Dear God, guide us to talk, act and believe that we are one people; and one indivisible nation under you.
Dear God, as we undertake the mission of building cohesive societies under the guidance of President Obama, where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other, we are painfully aware of the ignorance, fear, mistrust and ill-will that divides us, help us open our hearts and minds toward receiving each other.
Dear God, we are very close to fulfilling the immortal declaration of our founding fathers that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Dear God, guide our president, judiciary, Senate and Congress to serve our nation, and be faithful to our pledge, “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Dear God, guide us to protect our second amendment, and give us the sanity and wisdom to remove the mass killing assault weapons in the hands of irresponsible fellow Americans.
Dear God, guide us to take care of our needy and give us the heart to uplift everyone in the ditches on to a level playing field.
Dear God, bless our nation with productivity, good health and jobs so we can take care of our families and preserving their dignity.
Dear God, help us over a period of the next four years to learn to live within our means.
Dear God, guide us to become conflict mitigaters and good will nurturers.
Dear God, Protect our men and women in uniforms committed to our safety and well being.
Dear God, help us think, speak and act peace every moment of the day.
Dear God, give us your infinite wisdom and give us the courage to do the right thing, every moment of the day.
Help us learn to respect the otherness of other in each one of us, and accept the god given uniqueness to each of us.
In your precious name we bow.
Amen.Pluralist benediction samples:
- City of Carrollton (City Council)
- Chicago Bible College
- Immigration rally (benediction in the 2nd half of the video)