Senate Chaplain Barry Black had a message for lawmakers in his morning prayer to open the Senate today. Read this excerpt and see what you think. Looks like he may have his head on straighter than many of those with whom he shares the chamber.
Have mercy upon us, oh God, and save us from the madness…We acknowledge our transgressions, our shortcomings, our smugness, our selfishness, and our pride. Create in us clean hearts, oh God, and renew a right spirit within us.
Deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable…Remove the burdens of those who are the collateral damage of this government shutdown, transforming negatives into positives as you work for the good of those who love you.
Earlier, in the lead-up to the shutdown, he had prayed
As our nation stumbles toward a seemingly unavoidable government shutdown, keep our lawmakers from sowing to the wind, thereby risking reaping the whirlwind…Lead them away from the unfortunate dialect of us vs. them as they strive to united for the common good of this land we love.
Black is the first Seventh-day Adventist and first African American to serve as Senate Chaplain. He was elected to the post in 2003.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.