We Cannot Pray
written by Jack Riemer:


 We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end war;
 For we know that You have made the world in a way 
that man must find his own path to peace
 Within himself and with his neighbor.

 We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation;
 For you have already given us the resources
 With which to feed the entire world
 If we would only use them wisely.

 We cannot merely pray to You. O God, 
 To root out prejudice,
 For You have already given us eyes
 With which to see the good in all men
 If we would ony use them rightly.

 We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end despare,
 For You have already given us the power
 To clear away slums and to give hope
 If we would ony use our power justly.

 We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease,
 For You have already given us great minds with which to search 
out cures and healing,
 If we would only use them constructively.

 Therefore we pray to You instead, O God,
 for strength, determination, and willpower,
 To do instead of just to pray,
 To become instead of merely to wish.