style="font-size:15px;"> The Day Is Done
Even here in America,
we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom.
When Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country
where formerly he was not even allowed to vote
we were enlarged by tears of pride,
as we saw Nelson Mandela’s former prison guards invited,
courteously, by him to watch from the front rows his inauguration.
We saw him accept the world’s award in Norway
with the grace and gratitude
of the Solon in Ancient Roman Courts,
and the confidence of African Chiefs from ancient royal stools.
No sun outlasts its sunset,
but it will rise again and bring the dawn.
—Maya Angelou
17
Some Things Are Worth Dying For
How do you say thank you to the men and women
who risked their lives, and lost their lives to secure our freedom,
our way of life, our peace and prosperity?
How do you say thank you to the men and women
who went through the most terrible experiences of their lives,
surrounded by death and carnage, losing friends and loved ones,
seeing things that would change their lives forever?
How do you say thank you to those who went through all this
with the belief that their one life, whether lost or saved,
could make a difference, had to make a difference, for our sake,
the generation they had not even met yet?
How do you say thank you to the men and women
who had faith in us before we were even born,
faith that we would become people worth fighting for,
and worth dying for?
—Military Prayer
18
Live the Life That Is Given to You
Your life is the only opportunity
that life can give you.
If you ignore it,
if you waste it,
you will only turn to dust.
—Rab’ia al-Adawiyya
19
Help Me Live a New Life
Dear Lord God,
cover my sins and guilt
with the righteousness
of your Son, my Savior.
Create in me a pure heart
and help me live a new life in you!
Amen.
—Jes Woller
20
Rite of the Righteous Woman
Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
May we be women who acknowledge our power to change,
and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and speak for those
who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly,
and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong and gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction
compel us, and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus.
And in that name and by that power, may we change the world.
Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
—Solano Sisterhood
21
Faith, Hope, and Charity
A faintish journey do I make
As through this frazzled world I wind,
With heavy heart and weary steps,
But with determined mind.
Beseech I for a flicker of
The faith that can a mountain move,
And hold that tenet close to me,
Believing where I cannot prove.
The pow’r that comes when sinking low
To man who grasps for straw or rope,
Will clutch til has he breathe no more
For where there’s life, there’s hope.
If my good turn be given to
My fellow man’s deficiency,
I’ll try to share my lowly gifts
Of Faith and Hope and Charity.
—Anne Shannon Demarest
22
Grace of Our Mother
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed
