Creator,
Sometimes we don’t know what to pray,
or how to talk to you about fixing what’s broken.
We pray in generalities, that you’ll
“be with us, guide us, restore us”
but sometimes, that’s not the tangible need
we really want to name.
Sometimes we want to say,
“It really hurts that people don’t always tell the truth.”
“I hate that starvation exists in the world.”
“How can we avoid war when it’s everywhere?”
“Why do so many bad things happen to the vulnerable?”
This week we are reminded that gratitude changes things,
And so we try to shift our focus a little,
remembering that though things
aren’t as they should be,
we’re waiting and listening
for what is good.
So we give thanks for what we can—
For a world of seasons that teach us about life and death;
For children who remind us to let go of our pretenses;
For diversity that is a mirror of your kingdom.
And we simply ask that we know you better,
that we know our neighbor better,
and that when we don’t know
exactly how to fight for justice
or rescue the oppressed,
we can at least mouth to you
that we’re trying,
and that we trust you to show us the way.
For that,
we are deeply,
deeply
thankful.
Amen.
Kaitlin Curtice is a Native American Christian author and speaker. As an enrolled member of the Potawatomi Citizen Band and someone who has grown up in the Christian faith, Kaitlin writes on the intersection of Indigenous spirituality, faith in everyday life, and the church. Her new book NATIVE (available May 2020) is about identity, soul-searching, and being on the never-ending journey of finding ourselves and finding God. As both a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and a Christian, Kaitlin Curtice offers a unique perspective on these topics. In this book, she shows how reconnecting with her identity both informs and challenges her faith.
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