August 21, 2018

(From "The Worst Hour of Trump's Presidency Just Happened)

CNN)Two massive clouds that have been hanging over Donald Trump's presidency for months broke open almost simultaneously on Tuesday afternoon -- and poured rain all over the President.

Between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time, two narratives -- both disastrously bad for Trump -- emerged:

1. Paul Manafort, the man who spent five critical months leading Trump's campaign in 2016, was found guilty of eight financial crimes. On the 10 other charges brought against Manafort, the jury couldn't reach a unanimous conclusion and the presiding judge declared a mistrial on those counts.

2. Longtime Trump personal attorney and fixer Michael Cohen agreed to a plea deal with the Southern District of New York in which he admitted guilt on eight charges and acknowledged that he had discussed or made hush payments to two women alleging affairs with Trump in order to keep damaging information from becoming public, at the direction of and in coordination with a candidate for federal office. That candidate, although Cohen didn't name him, is obviously Donald Trump.

Father,

I don't know if I'm supposed to feel sorry for Trump or not, now that I'm praying for him.  I feel gratitude that actual facts have come to light, and that no matter what the president wants, facts can't be turned into "fake news" just like that.  Idiot.  Forgive me.  I'm just grateful, Lord, that the justice system has compelled Cohen to tell the truth, finally.  I'm so sick and tired of the president hiding behind the support of a populace that is willing to turn a blind eye to his lies.  Thank you that justice will prevail.

I am not ashamed to pray that this signals the end of the Donald Trump presidency.  I'm not ashamed to pray that this signals a wake-up call for the Republican Party.  I'm not ashamed to pray that you use this moment to shake those of us who sit on the sidelines -  hating, judging, salivating for this president's downfall - and think of ways we can be a light that shines your love.  

So, Lord, even as I pray that this presidency ends and is replaced by something more reflective of true American values, I pray for this president.  Help him to find his way to a place in his soul that is humbled, vulnerable, and regretful.  Help him to find a way to apologize to the women he used.  Help them to find a way to forgive themselves for willingly being pawns to this powerful, abusive man.  Help him to recognize that his actions were wrong - from his unfaithfulness to his wife, from his dismissal of these women, to his lying about use of hush money during his campaign.  Lord, if I list these wrongs as blatantly as I do, it's only because I feel they are indisputable.  They are the facts of the situation.  And I know they must hurt you.  So I pray for this man who you have chosen to be the president for this moment.  I pray that you alter his soul in some fundamental way.  As Chuck Colson became your servant after a career of hubris and arrogance, I pray that you transform this man who has the power to affect the hearts and minds of so many angry people in this country.  I pray that you use this catastrophic moment for him to change him.  

Amen.