Independence Day
for Jamacia
for Ghana
for the United States of America
breaking away from oppression
forgive us for the ways we keep others back
down, under, behind, invisible
breaking away from tyranny
forgive us for the ways we claim privilege, power, prestige
forgive us when we walk through an open gate and close it behind us to keep others out
breaking away from economic dominance
forgive us for our delight in lower prices and cheaper labour
forgive our fear of not having enough
forgive our drive to gather in ever more for ourselves and our families
breaking away from restricting world views
forgive our blinders
forgive our divisive claims to truth
breaking away from systems of injustice
forgive us for the systems we have created in our freedom
that put others in chains
Revive in us the vision of your kin-dom
where the powerful who beat their chests will calm
and the meek who cower will claim courage
where the ordinary and unseen will connect with respect and voice
In our independence from the chains of old
move us to inter-dependence
to relationship
to trust
connect us with chains of daisies
linked in peace
celebrating the beauty of creation
free in our connections
Independence Day
our hope
your promise
