Washington, D.C. -- On Wednesday, November 9th, Faith in Public Life, Skinner Leadership Institute and Values Partnerships hosted a night of prayer to heal our nation. This powerful event featured 30 diverse and inspiring interfaith leaders, who each offered a prayer of healing for the future our democracy. After a contentious and painful election, every faith leader emphasized the need for justice, compassion and inclusion. Valarie Kaur offered a particularly powerful voice in her Sikh prayer:
A SIKH PRAYER FOR AMERICA -- NOV 9, 2016
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
In our tears and agony, we hold our children close and confront the truth: The future is dark.
But my faith dares me to ask: What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?
What if our America is not dead but a country still waiting to be born?
What if the story of America is one long labor?
What if all the mothers who came before us, who survived genocide and occupation, slavery and Jim Crow, racism and xenophobia, political oppression and sexual assault, are standing behind us now, whispering in our ear: You are brave!
What if this is our Great Contraction before we birth a new future?
Remember the wisdom of the midwife: "Breathe," she says. Then: "Push."
Now it is time to breathe. But soon it will be time to push; soon it will be time to fight - for those we love -- Muslim father, Sikh son, trans daughter, indigenous brother, immigrant sister, white worker, the poor and forgotten, and the ones who cast their vote out of resentment and fear.
Let us make an oath to fight for the soul of America -- "The land that never has been yet- And yet must be" (Langston Hughes) -- with Revolutionary Love and relentless optimism. And so I pray this Sikh prayer:
Nanak Naam Chardi Kala, Tere Bane Sarbat Da Bhalla
"In the name of the Divine within us and around us, we find everlasting optimism. Within your will, may there be grace for all of humanity."
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
For more, see Valarie Kaur's blog post Why I #VowToFight
Listen to the entire prayer event below
