Dear Mr. Trump,
by Elouise
I woke up today wanting you to know that I’m praying for you, and how I’m praying for you. Hence this open letter.
As I see it, we have two kinds of leaders in the USA: those elected to office, and those who elect them. Clearly, given your electoral college votes, you won the vote, and were duly sworn in last January as President of the United States.
We, as unelected citizens, are also leaders. Did we not go to the polls and exercise our guaranteed right to lead by casting our votes? No matter who wins the election, we citizens lose if we vote carelessly or not at all, assuming we’re given a fair opportunity. We also lose if we fall back into apathy or cynicism and wait things out. Or try to take things into our own hands.
As a follower of Jesus, I am exhorted to pray you as the President of the USA. I can’t say ‘my’ President, because you serve all of us.
As our President, you have visible power and office. That means you have access to your executive pen, the bully and praise pulpit, the power to hire and fire designated people, and a stage that magnifies your voice far beyond what it would be if you were not President of the USA.
As President, you might be tempted to think you’re in control, or that you can change or ignore situations to your liking. Or at least do what you can to make things more comfortable for you and yours. You might also want people to like you. Especially the people to whom you made promises. You might even hope for some to hate and fear you.
And so I pray for you the way I pray for myself as a citizen leader. I pray you and I will let go of our desires for power and control, esteem and affection, safety and survival, and especially the desire to change situations not in our control. The most important thing you can do is lead well, as the follower of Jesus you say you are. Which would be the most important thing I can do, as well.
Right now, even though it’s stormy, you’re a mighty visible oak. Still, tree rot often begins on the inside. Then one day, often without warning, the mighty visible oak crashes to the ground, often taking with it trees close to the mighty oak.
Gone. Not with a whimper, but with a resounding earthquake that travels to the other side of the world and back, creating tsunamis and chaos in its wake.
I like to think of us citizens and residents of the USA as tiny acorns that survive. Not all of us will make it. But the future does lie with us, doesn’t it? Which is why I can’t pray for you alone.
Please know that we’re trying to make as much sense of life as we can, hoping and praying you will grow into your office one day at a time, one step at a time. No matter the cost to your personal comfort or reputation. Which is what it means to follow Jesus.
Respectfully,
Elouise Renich Fraser
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 21 September 2017
Photo taken by DAFraser, 11 September 2017, Longwood Gardens Meadow
Response to Daily Prompt: Mighty
Amen. Refreshing to hear a prayer for a politician without politics or vitriol.
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Thanks, Dan. It took a while to get there….🙏🏻
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Yes!
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Many thanks, John!
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This is so well written.
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Thank you, Herminia. It’s been on my mind for a while. Today I woke up and was clear. 🙏🏻
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An exercise in bashing your head against a brick wall methinks; mores the pity.
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Hi, Brian. Thanks for your comment. I take it to mean some things will most likely never change. I don’t think my prayers for Mr. Trump will change him; I do, however, know that if I pray from my heart for someone with whom I have virtually impossible differences, I change. Which is really what I’m after right now.
The entire presidential campaign, inauguration and events of this year have been draining to say the least. The idea of praying for Mr. Trump was never high on my favorite-things-to-do list, mainly because I didn’t know how to do it. So I woke up yesterday and it all fell into place. I haven’t changed my mind about him. I have, however, changed my way of seeing him–even though it doesn’t make any difference in the way I view his presidency. I still believe the world and the USA in particular are less safe today than yesterday. A situation over which I have little or no control.
Elouise
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You took it the way it was meant Elouise.
The only way to be rid of this man other than the King Henry II solution, or impeachment by Congress, which requires the courage that sadly, appears lacking. They can try and impeach a President for a wee bit of harmless philandering, but not a president capable of starting the real war to end not all wars but civilization.
Home of the brave? Maybe; but not in Washington DC!
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I’m reminded of Nebuchadnezzar who was made to eat grass and roam the dirt until he lay down his crown and confessed God as Lord.
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A heavy price to pay indeed. How the mighty have fallen….
Thanks for your comment.
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nothing like a good sleep to wake refreshed and with so much wisdom to say 🙂 bless you E and thanks for this piece. I like the analogy of the oak and acorns more than words can say too ❤
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Thanks, Kim! I feel 100% better after getting that out, in words on ‘paper’ 🙂 yesterday. And I love being an acorn, don’t you?! 🙂
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I think the squirrels may eat us though….sigh 🙂
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Too bad for the world, huh? Naughty hungry squirrels…. 🙂
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