The Power of Prayer & Community Outreach
SS Hari Simran Singh Khalsa D.C.
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Recently, I was asked to lead the invocation for the City Council of Phoenix. I thought that bringing a sense of spirituality to the chambers of the City Hall would be a challenging task. We often have preconceived opinions regarding politics and politicians: this party is this way and that one is that way. After contemplating the nature of politics, I felt that all my preconceptions were neurotic. Neutrality had to be the tone, and a basic understanding of the nature of humans. Having met the Mayor and individuals of the City Council on several occasions, I feel they are very reasonable and accessible. And as a City Council they have expressed their appreciation of the power of prayer, our natural way of talking to God. The following Invocation was sent from our hearts to God’s inner ear:
"Let us stand and raise our head to the heavens.
Oh, God, please hear our prayer today.
May our every action be God’s action,
And may we act in God’s Will.
Please give us today an experience of unity,
Beyond any limitation and division,
Beyond any City Council district and beyond politics.
Let us know there is only one universal God,
Whose hand is the doer of all action.
Let us remember those who died for our freedom.
May we always remember
Those who sacrificed for our rights.
Lord, may we hold in sacred trust our liberty,
And in our Hearts the love of God.
May the Wisdom of God be our wisdom,
And may Truth prevail.
In the Name of God may we all be blessed.
Sat Nam."