Dear God of beauty,
We give thanks to you for creating each one of us in your image.
We give thanks to you for celebrating our differences and our dignity.
We acknowledge that we have not lived up to your dreams.
Instead of honouring each other’s dignity, we use race to belittle one another.
Instead of learning about each other’s differences, we hurry to judge.
Our subtle and not-so-subtle ignorance and indifference to racism
has harmed those who bear the stigma of race.
Give us perspective to notice patterns of exclusion and discrimination.
Grant us spirits to listen to those who are impacted by myriad pricks, stabs, bullets, and bombs of racism.
Grant us wisdom to notice interlocking oppressions of racism.
Grant us minds to discern and detect the complexity of racism.
Grant us words to utter truth in a form of repentance.
Grant us bodies to move in and resist in a form of solidarity.
Grant us openness to learn new insights that affirm, respect, and liberate.
Grant us humility to unlearn things that oppress, exclude, and discriminate.
Grant us hearts to open and relearn old wisdom from our ancestors.
Send your wind (Ruah) and blow away the toxicity of racism in all its forms—
Pour out your Spirit (Ruah) of justice and love on our communities,
so that racism would not poison us or divide us any longer.
Transform us and help us build an anti-racist world and live out your vision.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
—by HyeRan Kim-Cragg, originally published for 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism in 2025