We cannot pray

We cannot pray to You, O God
to banish war,
for You have filled the world with paths of peace,
If only we would take them.

We cannot pray to You
to end starvation,
for there is food enough for all,
if only we would share it.

We cannot merely pray
for prejudice to cease;
for we might see the good in all that lies before our eyes,
if only we would use them.

We cannot merely pray
"Root out despair",
for the spark of hope already waits within the human heart,
for us to fan it into flame.

We must not ask of You, O God,
to take the task that you have given us.
We cannot shirk, we cannot flee away,
avoiding obligation for ever.

Therefore, we pray, O God,
for wisdom and will,
for courage to do and to become,
not only to look on with helpless yearning
as though we had no strength.

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