Prayer Alone Is Not Enough
(Rabbi Jack Riemer)
We cannot only pray to You, O God, to end war;
For we know that You have made the world in such a way
That we must find the path to peace
Within ourselves and with our neighbors.
We cannot only 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 only pray to You, O God,
To root out prejudice;
For You have already given us eyes
With which to see the good in all people,
If we would only use them rightly.
We cannot only 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 power justly.
For You have already given us great minds
With which to search out cures and healings,
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 only to pray,
To become instead of merely to wish,
For Your sake and for ours, speedily and soon,
That our land and world may be safe,
And that our lives may be blessed.
Ma the words that we pray, and the deeds that we do
Be acceptable before You, O Eternal,
Our Rock and our Redeemer.
