Praying for our World: The WISDOM of women

HOPEFUL CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. Top: NASA image of the planet. Then: School children in Honduras, Guinea, and Malaysia. Images in public domain, courtesy Wikimedia Commons.We invited men, women and children to contribute to a prayer that starts with these simple words:
“I hope for a world where …”

Today, we are sharing examples of what people have done with this idea. You are free to share these prayers. (Just inlcude a link to the readthespirit.com version as you share a copy.)

Read the Original Invitation: This story explains the project, which you’re still welcome to try.
Turning 9/11 into a Day of Hope:
Learn how young and old voiced their hopes at AOK Detroit.
A Retirement Community Prays
: This prayer came from the Chelsea Retirement Community.
The Women of WISDOM:
The creators of the Friendship and Faith project gathered their prayers, too.

Pray: ‘I Hope
for a World Where …’

WHAT IS WISDOM? This nationally known interfaith network of women has far too many programs underway to list them here. Visit the home website for Women’s Interfaith Solutions … better known as WISDOM.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

WISDOM played a major role in collecting unique responses in this prayer project. Over the past month, dozens of lines have come from women attending WISDOM gatherings—or writing independently in keeping with WISDOM’s goals of peacefully sharing stories.
One of the best ways to get involved—wherever you live in the world—is to Share Your Story in the ongoing Friendship and Faith project.

THE WISDOM VERSION:
WE ARE WELL WITH EACH OTHER

I pray for a world where …
We greet each other with love and respect
We honor the God in each other
We greet everyone as a child of God
And, we talk
We eat with one another
Our children play together
And, as a community, we honor the goodness throughout God’s creation.

I hope for a world where …
We open compassionate eyes
We pull on our work gloves and boots together
We are silent no more
And, we share in the hard work of justice, always building that world
Where all families can find food
Where we’ve cleared away the mines, the guns, the weapons that kill children
Where violence no longer is regarded as a solution
Where children grow up feeling safe
Where children know they are loved not only by their own families
But by all families around the world.

I hope for a world where …
We realize that our hopes are already present in the lives we can share
Where our hopes are real, if we have eyes to see
If we listen with our hearts
And llsten to the hearts of others
If we speak honestly and without fear.

I hope for a world where …
We are well with each other
We need not be afraid
Our neighbor’s need equals our own
We find cures for cancers
We heal each other
There are no more tears of tragedy and when tears come
We wipe each other’s tears
Where hope is happening
And, love is living.

SPECIAL THANKS: Longtime WISDOM leaders Gail Katz and Patricia Harris played important roles in spreading word about ‘I Hope for a World …’ Nearly half of the 40 women who contributed hopes to this prayer preferred that their contributions appear without their names—but we certainly thank you, too! Among the many named contributers whose hopes are reflected in this prayer: Cynthia Alloway, Shahina Begg, Dee Chapell, Paula A. Drewek, Elaine Greenberg, Deb Hansen, Mares Hirchert, Motoko Huthwaite, Kathleen Johnson, Barbara Lewis, Judy Lipson, Polly Mehlberg, Anshu Prasad, Elizabeth Ring, Berdis Robinson, Callie Schmidt and Debbie Valencia.

Originally published at readthespirit.com, an online journal covering religion and cultural diversity.

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