Prayer for the election season

A Prayer to Recite Before Voting

O Majestic One—

I stand humbly before You to cast my vote for President of the United States of America, members of the United States Congress, and our elected judges and officials. May those elected to office recognize that they have come to power not to subjugate, dominate, or oppress those with whom they disagree, but to hallow and serve with compassionate acts of peace, justice, and reconciliation.

O You Who are Peace—

I cast this ballot with a profound recognition that my vote stands to magnify or tarnish your sacred seal of peace. And so, I ask You to be here with me in body, heart, mind, and spirit as I undertake this sacred act. Guide me with Your trustworthy counsel, strengthen me with Your power, and soften my heart with Your compassionate love.

O Healer of the Brokenhearted—

During a time of great sickness, overwhelming anxiety, growing suffering, and crippling poverty sweeping through our land, may my vote serve as a healing balm, empowering us and our leaders to move forward with deep reverence and compassion for the precious and fragile human lives you have given us.

O Great Wholeness—

During a time of growing division, hatred, prejudice, and violence in our country and abroad—all of which threaten to erode the democratic institutions that are the pride and glory of our country—may my vote sow empathy, mutual understanding, reconciliation, and harmony among us. May it awaken us all to the truth that each one of us is unique and irreplaceable, each essential for the health of the whole. And may it thus support us to abandon our desire to dominate, subjugate, eradicate, debase, or do violence to any part of Your creation.

O Unfathomable Mystery—

Regardless of the outcome of this election, during a time when so many of us are digging in our heels, clinging to one-sided beliefs, presumptions, and preconceptions about how things ought to be, and hiding behind the safe confines of our little echo chambers, may I commit to being less concerned with being right and more concerned with promoting peace. May I nurture an open mind, one free from preconceptions and ready to respond to the need of the hour with immediacy, curiosity, receptivity, and spacious love.

O Breath of Life—

Regardless of the outcome of this election, during a time when so many cry out, “I can’t breathe!”, may I commit to pursuing justice on behalf of those who have carried the oppressive yoke of brutality, degradation, and dehumanization for far too long. For it is You who, even while creating us in a glorious rainbow of skin tones and hues, stamped each of us with the dignity of Your sacred image and instilled in us the same breath.

O Great Mother—

Regardless of the outcome of this election, and during a time when Mother Earth—who sustains us all in each moment with grace, loving-kindness, and compassion—calls out for relief from the ravages of her children’s never-ending greed and the pain of global scorching, may I commit to cultivating gratitude, releaseing me from interminable cycles of greed and acquisitiveness.

O Forgiving One—

Regardless of the outcome of this election, I know deep down that I have been part of the problem, too often consumed and blinded by my own fear, hatred, prejudice, and reactivity; distracted by my pursuit of comfort; and lulled by my own willful ignorance and complacency. Even as I decry the ravages of division, bigotry, injustice, and climate change, I cannot claim innocence, and so I pray for your forgiveness and steadfast guidance in returning me to a good, life-sustaining path for the benefit of all the citizens of this country and our world.

O Purifying Fire—

Regardless of the outcome of this election, it is my sincere wish to not add fuel to the fire of hate that has erupted in our country. For this is a time when the problems we face require cooperation and good will. And so, as I cast this vote, I pray that my heart and mind may be purified from any confusion, ignorance, deception, fear, hatred, ill will, cynicism, self-righteousness, pride, or greed. Instead, let my motives be directed toward peace, clarity, compassion, hope, humility, healing, and reconciliation. For I do not cast this ballot to sow more hatred, competition, ill will, division, and enmity, but to magnify and sanctify all that is pure and promising in the days to come.

Amen. 

Adapted from Rabbi Sam Feinsmith,

Institute for Jewish Spirituality

October 2020