If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18

Suspicion is running wild these days. We are suspicious of those of a different race, color, or sexual orientation. We’re suspicious of people who wear masks and get vaccinated or those who don’t wear masks and don’t get vaccinated. We’re suspicious of the COVID vaccine itself and that governments aren’t doing the job we voted them to do. We’re suspicious of anyone who holds views different from those we share.

There’s a song by Terry Stafford that goes “Suspicion torments my heart.  Suspicion keeps us apart.  Suspicion, why torture me?” Suspicions do torment our hearts, keep us apart and torture us. Yet we know that God created us to live in harmony with one another. We know God calls us to be reconciled with each other and desires that we love each other as God loves us. While we know that we cannot change the world by ourselves, we also know that it is through holy acts of listening and loving, that hearts are healed.

And so, we pray: Father God, Create in us a clean heart and renew in us an openness to get to know each other without suspicion.
And so, we pray: Lord Jesus, help your people to walk the journey of understanding and reconciliation with you.
And so, we pray: Holy Spirit, bless your people with your grace, so that suspicions will lesson and your peace will reign in our hearts and among all the world’s people.
And so, we pray: Amen

Deaconess Judy Whaley, Sandspit-Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

Photo Credit: © Images.com/Corbis