[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7893]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord of life and designer of all seasons, spring has to be Your 
masterpiece. At first, early sketches are slow and tentative. Then 
suddenly, spring bursts into full color and fills the landscape of 
longing.
  The most tender shoots, like all the young, must have life their own 
way. Ground spots that only a few weeks ago seemed as though they would 
never grow anything again now are softened with life.
  During this time of threatening clouds of terrorism and violent winds 
of war, may the signs of spring bring us hope that peace will yet 
emerge.
  In the current political atmosphere, when debate of issues can easily 
fall into personal attacks and partisan loyalty can become intolerance 
and defensive posturing, may the seeds of spring bear a gentleness of 
manner and a civility of heart that will make us all proud to be 
Americans, truly one Nation under Your loving providence now and 
forever. Amen.

                          ____________________