As the Iowa Legislature returns to work today, Iowans struggle with the worst economic downturn since the great depression, a global pandemic fueling inequality, and environmental challenges that are culminating in a climate crisis. And now a national movement to elevate and center new voices of leadership from communities of color is challenging how we see ourselves as Americans and Iowans. As a state, we are not adjacent or simply close to these movements. We are in the center of all of these challenges and must play a role in advancing solutions that work for our state, country, and world.
Today and continuing for the remainder of this legislative session, Iowa IPL holds all of our state leaders in prayer. All of the diverse people living in our state, the businesses, and organizations in Iowa need our elected leaders to elevate the very best Democratic ideas AND Republican ideas to come together for solutions. We need leadership that moves beyond partisanship and entrenched positions. We pray that all of Iowa’s elected leaders embrace a shared set of values that are essential to our character as Americans. These values are critical as Iowa’s elected leaders wrestle with finding paths to smart government solutions and investments to address this historic time for Iowa, the United States, and the world. We offer this daily prayer for all of our elected leaders working together through the remainder of the legislative session.
We pray you lean into a traditional motto of the United States: E Pluribus Unum, out of many one. This is a time for Iowa to come together for solutions that work for all Iowans.
We pray you embrace a hopefulness for the future of our state. Challenges are opportunities. We can react to challenges with fear and a sense of scarcity. Or we can embrace hope and a belief in the abundance of what’s possible when we come together to overcome great challenges.
We pray you recognize in yourselves a spirit of action that is grounded in our shared national identity. We can and must invest in solutions that are not simply reactionary but are visionary and bold.
We pray you accept your responsibility of leadership with humility. No one has a monopoly on solutions to our many challenges.
Today and all days through the end of this session, may you be inspired and energized to lead our state through these intersectional challenges and into a brighter future for all Iowans.