New Idea

So, I have a new idea to maybe get me to blog more. I listen to music a lot, so I thought I would comment on what I am listening to and then go from there.

The idea started from my last post about the song, od yavo Shalom, Peace will come.

this one is short since it is late and I have not thought about it that much,

Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek

This is the album version on YouTube, I personally like it better than other versions, but it is being blocked from embedding into posts. So here is a live version.

Od yavo' Shalom

This song was on a CD that was made during my time in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education, Chaplaincy Education). I have always enjoyed the song, and never knew the name of it. Today I decided to look up the meaning and the translation of the song.

I found that it was written as a peace song, and is now a anthem for peace between Israel and Palestine.

The combination of Hebrew Shalom (peace) and Arabic Salaam (peace) made me want to know the background of the song.

For more here is a Wikipedia Article on the Song.

Here is a good version of the song on Youtube.

#	English translation	Transliteration	Hebrew
1	Peace will come upon us	Od yavo' shalom aleinu	עוד יבוא שלום עלינו
2	Peace will come upon us	Od yavo' shalom aleinu	עוד יבוא שלום עלינו
3	Peace will come upon us	Od yavo' shalom aleinu	עוד יבוא שלום עלינו
4	and on everyone.	Ve'al kulam (x2)	ועל כולם
5	Salaam ('peace' in Arabic)	Salaam (Salaam)	סלאאם
6	On us and on all the world	Aleinu ve'al kol ha olam	עלינו ועל כל העולם
7	Salaam, Salaam	Salaam, Salaam (x2)	סלאאם ,סלאאם

Prayers

Today we saw another peaceful transition of power in the United States. I feel that it is a great testament to the will of this nation, that despite our differences, and our often negative talk to each other, that we can move past that to understand that we must work together.

I heard two great prayers in the last two days. One today, from Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lawrey and one that was given, but not transmitted, yesterday by Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop in the Anglican Church.

Lawrey gave the benediction at the Inauguration.

Help us then now Lord to work for that day,
when nations will not lift up soil against nations.
When tanks will be beaten into tractors.
Where every man and every woman
shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree
and none should be afraid.
When justice will roll down like water,
And righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord in the memory of all the saints,
Who from their labors rest,
And in the joy of a new beginning.
We ask you to help us work for that day,
When black will not be asked to get back.
When brown can stick around,
When yellow will be mellow,
When the red man can get ahead man
And when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who will do justice
and love mercy say Amen!
Say Amen!
And Amen!”

Rev. Robinson's prayer was said during the national concert, but on by HBO, however the prayer was removed from the broadcast and rebroadcast of the concert. Here is the prayer:

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…

Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.

Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

AMEN.

More info can be found here.

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