Prayer for My People by Beth Steinman

October 16, 2015

I come before you today humbly, to ask your forgiveness

You see, my people are lost

My People! Those whom I love most dearly have lost the way to love

My People! Great Seers and Visionaries once found themselves in a time of growing struggle and strife

As the pain grew, they began to fear

In the darkness of their minds, they began to believe they had done wrong

And in their wrongdoing, deserved judgement. They began to believe they were not enough

This fear obscured their hearts’ truth, and, looking within, saw only darkness and turning without, saw only the same reflected

And thus, they embarked on a path of great destruction, turning to every corner of Earth and Sky and lashing out in anger at that which reminded them of their own pain

Oh My People! My people! In your pain, you attempted to stamp out cut down cut off burn down maim mangle rape kill and bury

That which gives and feeds life wishing, blindly hoping this would ease your pain!

My People, having long since forgotten the Ecstasy of Communion

In their isolation, began to feed on fear

You know the story.

This is why I come before you today humbly, with prayers for forgiveness in my heart

And with a message:

I am my people

Every seed of fear, misuse of power, act of hubris exists within the fertile ground of this human body

And because of you, I am learning to love this body

Because the openness of your gentle heart has stirred a remembrance within me,

I come before you with a great request

Please, see me as you

See me as you and all our people as Sacred People that we may face this sickness together, and that together, we may nurse this sickness back to health

Because the people are worthy

we are worthy of an invitation back into the Holy Circle

We are worthy of a return to greatness.

Oh, my people! You are loved! You are worthy of love! You are worthy of great beauty!

Come! Come and hear the sweet drumbeat and dance together!

Come and play and be among your relatives, in safety!

Come and draw near to the heart of the fire with all your ancestors and children

My People, with proud and shining faces, I see you for your beauty and strength! for your soft heart that beats the same color blood as mine blue like an eternal, circular river

We are all stirred by the same emotions, so embrace me, dear ones

And in this embrace, remember that love has never really left us

Remember that love is all there is.

posted October 2015 by bsteinmann

Beth Steinmann teaches the Earth Advocacy Apprenticeship--see our Education Page for information.