God,
I cannot help but feel guilty, as I sit in my comfortable dorm at a wonderful university that I love, proudly wearing a cross necklace to show my love for you without any fear of discrimination or judgement, writing my thoughts freely on a platform where I can write whatever my own, personal opinion is. Lord, you have filled my life with blessings, you have placed me in a country where I can say whatever I want without fear, I have the same opportunity to get an education as anyone else, I can be whatever I want to be as long as I work hard and keep my intentions pure.
Lord, so many are not as blessed. So many live their lives in fear and many innocent people have lost their opportunity to enter this country of freedom strictly because of where they are from. Families are being separated as people who took the proper steps to become legal citizens of this country left to visit loved ones and are unable to return. Students who worked hard to be accepted into the best universities that this country has to offer are unable to come to receive the education that they worked so hard for. Scientists who have been offered to conduct research at the top facilities are not permitted to fulfill their work and doctors who work at well renowned hospitals are not allowed to return from overseas visits. Good, honest, smart and kind people who would make excellent additions to this beautiful country are not welcome because they originate from a specific country. Just because they are from a dangerous place, does not make them dangerous people.
More importantly God, there are children out there who seek nothing more than a safe place to sleep at night. These children do not want to hear bombs or gunshots every day, they do not want to wonder what it is like to be an American citizen-- they want to live it. Innocent people just want to find a safe place to call home and, Lord, now they do not know what to do. There does not seem to be a solution to their problems, the American people were their hope, and we failed them; we failed your children.
We are all your children, no matter where we come from, no matter our religion, no matter our gender, no matter our culture, no matter our sexual orientation, we are all yours and made in you image. Lord, you are the solution to the problem, however it is difficult to not feel heartbroken as your suffering children are so far away.
It seems that the only thing that can be done right now is to appreciate the life that has been given, to appreciate that our problems usually have a simple solution, and to pray each and every day that your children can one day find safety and peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "to everything there is a season," and I hope that this is only a season, only temporary, and that soon we can allow as many as possible into this great country of freedom and opportunity. You have given us this world to share and to explore, you have given us each other to support and love. I ask of you, to please remind everyone of that always, especially our leaders. One day, we will all find rest and peace in you, but for now, I ask that you keep everyone safe and to never allow anyone to let go of the hope of a brighter tomorrow.
In your name,
Amen.
