[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Cherry blossoms draw thousands of visitors to the Capitol city, Lord. 
Their silent beauty causes busy residents to stop their frenzied motion 
and simply gaze for a moment. Reflected in pools or clustered together 
on lawns, wrinkled with age, their new life displays a unified motion 
of gentle friendship.
  Today, in our prayer, Lord, we offer voice to their song of spring 
and praise You and bless You for this momentary revelation of Your 
unique mystery and the blessing upon this Nation. Lord, this powerful 
gift of the Japanese people invites us to pray for our friends in their 
hour of need and suffering. Spring's fragile beauty will not be 
manipulated or contained for very long. In and through this passing 
glimpse of glory, the truth of Your promise is revealed. So, we learn 
the importance of Your timing and the art of subtle cohesion in natural 
forces.
  Lord, grant us patience that You will have Your way with us now and 
always.
  Amen.

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