OPINION:
Today is the National Day of Prayer — the completely nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory, unbiased National Day of Prayer.
It’s a day to shed the “D” pin, remove the “R” button.
And yes, even today, that is possible.
Casting aside politics and coming together as one — as a unified voice of the United States of America, not as a singular political this, or a solely partisan that — and for a most somber occasion as prayer and reflection for the country as a whole, for the nation at-large, can indeed still be done.
Discord, disunity and division don’t have to be.
And honestly, somewhat surprisingly, it really isn’t how it is, said Dr. Ronnie Floyd, president of the National Day of Prayer, in a telephone interview.
The media may focus on darkness, the press may pounce to tear asunder.
But “in reality,” Floyd said, “I’ve been told by people involved [with National Day of Prayer committees], all over the nation, there is probably more prayer happening in the country than ever before. It seems to be, according to what I’ve been informed, that there is more prayer than ever before.”
There’s a ray of light for ya.
In a country torn by politics, prayer isn’t just present — it’s actually very much alive and present, he said. For both parties, too.
It was President Harry Truman, a Democrat, who decades ago signed into law a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer in the United States. It was President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, who in 1988 amended the law to designate the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday of each May. Moreover, it’s not just a federal thing — though, this year, Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill is the place to be for Floyd’s official leadership event. But meanwhile, simultaneously, states and communities and localities all around the country will be holding their own prayer gatherings. One, for example, is set for the Daviess County Courthouse in Owensboro, Kentucky; another, for Civic Plaza in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In other words: Millions of Americans from all walks of life, from all religious denominations, from all political ideologies, from all spiritual beliefs, from all sorts of demographics that perhaps normally wouldn’t mix, nonetheless gather together to participate in the National Day of Prayer.
In this day and age of nonstop division, that’s really quite astonishing.
Divinely directed, even.
“I operate with this [mindset],” Floyd said. “I love the country, I believe in the country … but I also know this: The government cannot fix us, politics cannot heal us. The ultimate answer is we have to turn our eyes upward, toward heaven.”
Hallelujah, anyone?
It’s just truly remarkable that so, so, so many others in this melting pot of a nation — that really, admittedly, oft-shamefully hasn’t been so melty in recent times — believe similarly. It’s inspiring. It’s motivating. It’s uplifting.
It’s hope personified.
The National Day of Prayer, themed as it is this year as “Love One Another,” in the vein of John 13:34, is perhaps one of the last frontiers for American nonpartisanship.
“Americans,” Floyd said, “are really a more sensitive people than what we put on.”
Amen to that.
Thank God for that. And my oh my, how timely, the National Day of Prayer gives the opportunity to do just that.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley.
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