A new way of looking at action and prayer...

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end war; 

For we know that You have made the world in a 

way that man must find his own path to peace within 

himself and with his neighbor.  

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation; 

For You have already given us the resources with which 

to feed the entire world, if we could only use them wisely.  

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root out prejudice; 

For You have already given us eyes with which to see the 

good in all men, if we would only use them rightly.  

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end despair; 

For You have already given us the power to clear away 

slums and to give hope, if we would only use our power justly.  

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease;

For You have already given us great minds with which 

to search out cures and healing, if we would only use 

them constructively.  

Therefore, we pray to You instead, O God, for strength, 

determination, and willpower, to do instead of just pray, 

to become instead of merely to wish. 

- Jack Riemer

copied from Children of Hope by Vernon Brewer and Noel Brewer Yeatts 

page 239-240