No One Believed It Would Happen----The Prayer

I was priveledged to be asked to say a prayer before the Board of Oklahoma County Commissioners today. Here it is.
DEAR GOD-----
TODAY WE ENTER LENT, 40 DAYS TO REMEMBER YOUR SACRIFICE FOR US AND PREPARE FOR SPRING, AND THEN EASTER. THE EVENT THAT CHANGED THE WORLD------- NO ONE BELIEVED IT WOULD HAPPEN.
THIS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE OUR NATIONAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE. THIS WEEK WE CELEBRATED PRESIDENTS DAY. WE REMEMBER OUR GREAT LEADERS ------LIKE PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON, WHO HELPED GIVE BIRTH TO THIS GREAT TREASURE OF A REPUBLIC.
NO ONE BELIEVED IT WOULD HAPPEN.
MANY SAID THE UNITED STATES WOULD NEVER SURVIVE, BUT A GREAT BEACON OF DEMOCRACY WAS CREATED TO SHINE AROUND THE WORLD TO BE ADMIRED AND IMITATED.
NEARLY ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER A GREAT CIVIL WAR TORE OUR NATION APART. NO ONE BELIEVED IT WOULD HAPPEN.
CRITICS SAID OUR NATION WOULD NEVER SURVIVE A CIVIL WAR, SLAVES WOULD NEVER BE FREED. BUT ANOTHER GREAT PRESIDENT ------ABRAHAM LINCOLN ------ RELIED ON YOU FOR STRENGTH AND COURAGE AND YOUR WILL WAS DONE AND FREEDOM REINED.
A HUNDRED YEARS LATER THERE WERE THOSE WHO FOOLISHLY ENCOURAGED BIGOTRY AND HATRED. SOME COURAGEOUSLY DEMANDED CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL.
NO ONE BELIEVED IT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT YOUR WILL WAS DONE, AND A LEADER SPOKE THOSE FOUR WORDS----I HAVE A DREAM.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING URGED ALL TO JUDGE EACH OTHER ON THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER, NOT THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
DOCTOR KING SAID---------LET FREEDOM RING. WE ASK YOU, GOD TO LET FREEDOM RING AROUND THE WORLD AND END BIGOTRY AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND HATRED WHICH IS THE ROOT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM THAT THREATENS OUR FUTURE AND THE FREEDOMS WE HOLD SO DEAR. IT IS YOUR GUIDANCE AND COURAGE OUR LEADERS NEED MORE THAN ADVICE FROM POLITICAL CONSULTANTS OR PUBLIC OPINION POLLS.
REMIND OUR LEADERS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER ---- WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST, AND ALWAYS.
WE ASK FOR YOU TO DESTROY OUR ENEMIES AND THE ENEMIES OF FREEDOM. WE ASK FOR YOU TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS, OUR LEADERS AND OUR ALLIES------- FROM ALL EVIL.
WE ASK FOR YOUR SPECIAL BLESSING FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, SHERIFF’S EMPLOYEES, AND OUR POLICE AND FIREMEN WHO WORK EVERYDAY TO PROTECT US. BLESS THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO PRAY FOR THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY EVERY DAY.
AMEN.