“Do not let the oppressed be shamed and turned away;
never forget the lives of your poor.” —The Daily Office (dailyoffice.org).
If I cannot attend the office of Morning Prayer at St. Mark’s, I try to read it from this website. If you do not know about this Daily Office website, you are in for a new adventure. When you access it, all the readings for morning, evening, and noonday prayer are right there in front of you. The Lay Vicar, Josh Thomas, also offers hymns and pictures that relate to the readings, as well as prayer petitions that have been submitted. It is not just a website—but a community of participants praying during a live, twice-daily service of morning and evening prayer. I always feel connected to pray-ers all over the world when I connect to The Daily Office.
As I read these prayers through this community, my mind takes me out of my own problems, and I move more globally. I see the children and families of Latino origin who are still separated and incarcerated at our southern border. I cannot stop thinking and praying about them and those who are making and supporting policies that affects them.
Then I remember an episode yesterday from our food pantry. I go to St. Mark’s weekly food pantry just to meet and talk with those who come for their groceries. I see a brown-skinned woman with black hair and three children of similar appearance come in. They seem to be confused about the process. I immediately think they must be Latino, and motion to our member who speaks Spanish to go over and help them. The mother tells him she speaks English. Later, as I talk with the children, I find out that they are Native American.
I learn about my own prejudice, thinking that all brown-skinned people must be of a certain heritage. I cannot condone the prejudice of those who are harming immigrant children and their families who are seeking asylum in our country; but because of this incident, I gain a little insight into my own darkness.
I make amends to the family and hope I have learned some life lessons taught to me by those who were here in this land long before me.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com
