We cannot
merely pray to you, O God,
     to end war; for we know that you have made the world
     in a way that man must find his own path to peace
     within himself and with his
neighbor.

 

We cannot merely pray to you, O
God,
     to end starvation; for you have already given us the
     resources with which to feed the entire world,
     if we would only use them wisely.

 

We cannot
merely pray to you, O God,
     to root out prejudice; for you have already given us
eyes
     with which to see the good in all
men,
     if we would only use them rightly.

 

We cannot
merely pray to you, O God,
     to end despair, for you have already given us the
power
     to clear away slums and to give
hope,
     if we would only use our power
justly.

 

We cannot
merely pray to you, O God,
     to end disease; for you have already given us great
minds

     with which to search out cures and
healing,

     if we would only use them constructively.


Therefore we pray to you instead, O God,

For strength, determination and will power,

To do instead of just pray,

To become instead of merely to wish.