Walk, pray, love

For six decades our country has called us to a National Day of Prayer, indisputably a great notion. But how do we make the most of such a day? With that dilemma in mind, what follows is a simple suggestion for making the most of the National Day of Prayer on May 6. I call it a progressive adventure. And much like a progressive dinner, it will require driving to different locations on the Island to savor the flavor of the day. A logical place to start is at Mercerdale Park. While standing beneath the Veterans Memorial, spend some time in silent reflection and prayer thanking the Almighty for those who were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice to provide us with a democracy in which our personal freedoms are both protected and practiced. Then to Luther Burbank Park. A park named for one of our nation’s foremost botanists is a perfect place to express gratitude to our Creator for the beauty of creation. Walk along the lakeside path and admire the splendor of the flowering bushes and trees.

May 4, 2010 1:03 pm

For six decades our country has called us to a National Day of Prayer, indisputably a great notion. But how do we make the most of such a day?

With that dilemma in mind, what follows is a simple suggestion for making the most of the National Day of Prayer on May 6. I call it a progressive adventure. And much like a progressive dinner, it will require driving to different locations on the Island to savor the flavor of the day.

A logical place to start is at Mercerdale Park. While standing beneath the Veterans Memorial, spend some time in silent reflection and prayer thanking the Almighty for those who were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice to provide us with a democracy in which our personal freedoms are both protected and practiced.

Then to Luther Burbank Park. A park named for one of our nation’s foremost botanists is a perfect place to express gratitude to our Creator for the beauty of creation. Walk along the lakeside path and admire the splendor of the flowering bushes and trees.

A pause at City Hall would be a great next stop. While there, pray for our local government officials. Ask the God of justice, mercy and order to give wisdom to our city manager, mayor, members of the City Council as well as our police chief and fire chief.

From City Hall make your way to one of the several schools on the Island. Express gratitude that our school district is one of the most envied in the entire nation. Ask God to help our students make wise choices when faced with tempting opportunities related to drugs, alcohol and premature sexual intimacy. Remember their teachers and administrators who help shape the moral development of our kids.

Where do you practice your faith? If that house of worship is on Mercer Island, drive to that location. If the sanctuary is open, why not go inside and spend 10 minutes in silent contemplation. Pray for your spiritual shepherds. Ask God to encourage them when their task is overwhelming and they are under-appreciated. Pray for our state lawmakers. Pray for our president, his cabinet, members of Congress and the Supreme Court. Ask the Divine Judge to be their moral compass.

But your progressive prayer adventure is not quite done. As you drive to your residence, talk to your Heavenly Father about your children, your siblings and your aging parents. While the residents of the White House need our prayers, those who reside in your house need them, too. Your family (and mine) have unique challenges and opportunities requiring Divine intervention.

Finally, if your church or synagogue has planned a communitywide National Day of Prayer service, why not attend with your family? It could become an annual tradition.

Pastor Greg Asimakoupoulos can be reached at awesomerev@aol.com.