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This week’s spiritual wisdom is entitled “Prayer for a New Beginning” and is written by Tikkun reader Sulha Shalomi:

Dear God,

We cannot ask President Obama to be or do what we ourselves, in our hearts and minds, are not willing to be or do. When we ask for President Obama to have the courage of his convictions, may we also receive this grace. When we ask that he remember who he is and reclaim his vision and highest and best unfolding, may we likewise be blessed. When we ask that he promote peace and reconciliation among peoples and countries, may we also be graced with peace in all of our relationships and interactions in the home, workplace, and community. When we ask that his faith be strengthened, and that he be shown a clear path to allow his vision to become reality, may we also understand that we, too, will be shown a path. May we have the same courage and willingness to accept it and walk it, strong in knowing that we are not alone, but walk hand-in-hand with our Creator – hand-in-hand with each other, regardless of where we are. That as we forgive President Obama for not (yet) fulfilling his campaign promises, we forgive ourselves for our own short-comings, for all the times we chose to take the path of least resistance instead of forging the new one we had been shown. That as we ask President Obama to step out in faith and courage without seeing the bridge beneath him, may we be willing to do the same, in our own lives, each and every day.

We can not expect President Obama to rise to his own magnificence unless we are willing to do the same, for the responsibility for reclaiming a vision for positive change and manifesting it in our lives requires the commitment and dedication of each and everyone of us, everyday, to be willing to reach for our own highest and best unfolding, as individuals, as a people, and as a country.

May we remember that it takes all of us, working together, to create the changes we seek, and that we cannot sit back and blame and judge President Obama and others for not doing what we, ourselves, are unwilling to do, or commit to doing. Peace begins with each of us; with each breath we begin again: We can be the change we seek, as a people and a country, but we must do it together – one person cannot carry all of us, yet one person’s vision and faith-full leadership and courage can inspire each of us to do the same. May this be our common prayer.

Author’s Note: If we want to live in a country that recognizes and values the contribution of each man, woman and child, and knows that each is worthy of receiving the best available health care, then we have the ability to forge such a plan, using Medicaid/Medicare as a model. If we want a country that puts greater priority and emphasis on living in peace and harmony than fueling conflict, we can have it. In order for this to become reality, we must open to being inspired in new directions, new ways of living; daily reading of this prayer is a start. By surrendering to a power greater than ourselves, we allow for a different future to unfold – one that honors all of life, and enables us to come together in strength, as a people and a country worthy of its heritage and name, these “united states.” Email the author at peace.reconciliation@gmail.com.