The Nineveh Liturgies - Day 4 (Our Heroes)

Our nation has chosen its heroes poorly.

We have admired the rebellious, the haughty, and the immoral. We have been envious of women who toss their heads proudly and who flaunt themselves. We have loved the writing and teaching of thinkers who justify our sin.

With our time, praise, and money, we have worshiped the physically beautiful, the materially wealthy, the corporately powerful. We have trusted the cynical, and the abrasive, and the crude. We have even chosen rude, proud people to lead our nation.

We have forgotten how to love integrity. We have forgotten how to love purity and sobriety. We have forgotten how to love kindness and tenderness. We have forgotten how to love self-control and gentleness.

We mock what is innocent, and we mistrust it. Our hearts have become too hard.

Lord, we ask You to remove the spirit of idolatry from our land. Break down the false, high places. Reveal them for what they are.

Show us again how to love good things. Teach us beauty. Teach us grace. Teach us holiness.