Governments need the power of prayer

I read a recent article in the Daily Herald about an atheist blogger and author who delivered the DuPage County Board's first nonreligious invocation. The article stated that he was surprised to find that prayers were happening at government meetings in his home county. He learned about them when newly elected Democrats called for the elimination of traditional prayers before board meetings. He said, "There's no reason to include an invocation at a local government meeting. We didn't elect them to pray to God before a meeting or to invoke God."

I thought about how different this opinion is from some of America's earliest leaders:

Benjamin Franklin, one of America's foremost Founding Fathers, to the Continental Congress 1787: "In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for His protection. Our prayers were heard, and they were graciously answered ... Have we now forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we no longer need his assistance? I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: 'that God governs the affairs of man.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"

George Washington, America's first president and "Father of His Country": "It is impossible rightly to govern the world without God and the Bible."

I hope that the board members have been beginning their meetings with prayer because they know the power of God to bless the people of DuPage County, and I also hope that all citizens will be praying for their elected leaders.

Patsy Crawford

Arlington Heights