United for Prayer?
Martin Luther King Jr. said it well when he spoke the resonating words: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
And I’d say the days in which we live are ripe and full of challenge and controversy.
But yet, I saw it with my very own eyes.
And had I not seen it with my own eyes, it’s easy to believe the contrary. Because the world loves to be divided. We live in a world that cannot proclaim our division loud enough. The world tells us our nation is divided. It tells us that we cannot agree. It says our differences will push us apart—says that we are too different. And the media blasts the “evidence” in our face nearly every day, shouting it from the rooftops. Is it true? Perhaps, at times. There’s no doubt that hate, dissention, racism, cruelty, and inequality exists in our country today. And to deny that these differences exist would be as foolish as pretending their consequences didn’t produce lasting pain, division, and conflict.
They do.
But for one moment, on a cold, snowy morning in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, I saw it with my own eyes: a standing, as MLKJ describes it, in “times of challenge and controversy.”
Unity.
People with differences uniting under one cause.
Prayer.
I wouldn’t have believed it without seeing it myself.
And I’ll admit it. I didn’t know anything about the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce. Or anything about what they did. I am not a business minded person. I’m a creative. And rarely do I think in terms of dollars and cents. But when my wife was asked to be the Keynote speaker for their Annual Prayer Breakfast, a whole world of discovery was opened to me. The discovery of something wonderful. Something good. Something that has been going on since 1976. One that I had no idea existed in a world that shouts division. One I’d like to bring to your awareness as well.
Could it be that there is a voice of unity?
Widely recognized as the largest, most active, and most influential chamber of commerce in our county, the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce is also honored as one of the most important in Southwest Pennsylvania. Made of around 1,000 members, businesses ranging everywhere from firms to government agencies to retailers to manufacturers to service providers are all included in the 501c6 organization.
And they’ve been doing a stellar job since the 1940’s, being influential to help hold things together as a framework in the community, providing network opportunities, an advocacy platform, and current professional development seminars.
But again, I’m not business minded. I’m a creative. I know language, art, books, and have a very strong Christian . . . faith?
Did someone say faith?
I was honestly blown away. I sat in my chair only as a supporter. I came to hear my wife speak. I helped carry her equipment and drive her to the event. I had no idea what the Chamber did or who they were. I only knew they were going to eat and pray. And they wanted my wife to speak . . . something I’m very proud of her for doing.
Did I say I was blown away?
Held at the beautiful Ferrante’s Lakeview in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, I sat with my cup of coffee in hand. It was an early 7:00 a.m. Is it even healthy to be up at this hour? (Authors tend to work different hours). My eyes looked around the room. I watched them come. They filtered in strong. People. People from different walks of life—different backgrounds, businesses, and mindsets. And when they came, they came as though it was the biggest thing to hit the county all year. A sold-out event in conjunction with Westmoreland College. A packed house. A demand I had not anticipated. I sat at my table, unable to move or budge or even walk to get more coffee if I needed it. I sat in the middle of a sardine sea of people. A lively bunch. An excited crowd. At this hour?
For prayer?
I sat with my cup of coffee. They fed us a delicious meal. And I heard words I couldn’t believe. My mind was quite astonished. They’ve been doing this since . . . yes, since 1976. With my very own eyes I looked around the room. Politicians. Business owners. Teachers. Students from local schools. Leaders in the church.
And they’re here to pray? To petition our Creator?
My eyes watched. My ears listened. Jim Graham opened the event as the MC. Deb Thackrah (Feeding the Spirit) stood on the platform, had our attention, and began the breakfast with prayer.
My mind wondered further. I discovered things I didn’t know. They do this each year? Gathering together in the name of unity to pray in faith for our community? Residents, employers, workers, elected officials, educators—all in one place, for one purpose, for one reason. Really? Isn’t this a time of challenge and controversy?
And had my own eyes not seen it, I might not have believed it.
Because the world continually shouts the contrary. All day. Every day. Because our world cannot divide fast enough. Our world loves to be divided.
And although MLKJ’s opening quote referred mainly to racial struggles, the red/blue political debate has divided our country in ways many feel we will never recover from. Political tension is a hot topic in nearly every corner of America.
Yet everyone and anyone in the community was invited to this prayer breakfast. Even me, an author. One who had no clue an event like this existed. And nobody at this event cared what my political views were.
I listened to four leaders in our community do spiritual readings. Heather McLean (Mental Health America of Southwestern Pa), Carmen Capozzi (Sage’s Army), Mark Valozzi (Laurel Highlands Opportunity Center), and Stephanie Babich (Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Laurel Region) voiced important messages—the vital implications of how the actions of Love, Listen, Learn, and Lead impact our community. Then Janet Ward (Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board) did the benediction. And we prayed.
My wife, Inspirational Speaker Faerie Grace, did the Keynote. And I was speechless, blown away. Because she delivered a powerhouse speech. And both Democrats and Republicans heard her words. Yet they didn’t fight. And side by side, one of the hottest-topic-dividing lines in the country of America today—political party—they stood listening. They set aside agendas for the sake of unity. Teachers, residents, workers, elected officials, employers—and dare I repeat, Democrats and Republicans—united themselves under one cause, one event, and one mission: to pray for our community and petition our Creator.
And it was beautiful.
And I would not have believed it unless seeing it with my own eyes.
President & CEO Dan DeBone not only spoke for unity but lived it out, uniting the past and present moving forward. His efforts to unite the chamber after unfortunate health circumstances forced Chad Amond to step down (from the same position) prove how important this unity is to both himself and the Chamber. Inspiring and moving, I was touched to see these two men arm in arm, standing for what they believe in.
Yes, my wife is a phenomenal speaker. I was proud of her when someone turned to me after she had the entire room doing “the wave.” He looked to me and mouthed the words “that was awesome!” I agree. It was wonderful to watch a room full of business professionals doing the wave just like at a sporting event (author smiles from ear to ear). It was impressive. Because it was fun. I’ll say it. It was fun being . . . united.
But more importantly, the message she spoke was a message people received—one everybody realized as necessary. We need to be united. And the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce is doing a wonderful thing. They are joining us all together in the name of this unity. Praying. Petitioning. Bringing us together for the sake of the community.
I was totally blessed to witness it.
Ben Carson said, “Our strength as a nation comes in our unity. We are the United States of America, not the divided states. And those who want to divide us are trying to divide us, and we shouldn’t let them do it.”
I think he was on to something—as the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce—and coming together in prayer is a way that keeps the division from occurring.
After Faerie was done inspiring, wowing the crowd, and speaking the truth that brought us only closer together, the Irwin Male Chorus led everybody in a very fitting song. The last line astoundingly applicable: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
My eyes saw it.
My ears heard it.
It was amazing.
A room full of voices united in agreement.
And when the song closed us out, the 2023 Westmoreland County Chamber Annual Prayer Breakfast was officially over. And beautiful to my eyes, people from different backgrounds, businesses, and corners of Westmoreland Country then stood, stayed, and talked to one another: a lingering of humanity that enjoyed the oneness created.
By prayer.
By faith.
By unity.
Democrats and Republicans standing together.
And at least for one moment in time I can testify: it happened. I believe MLKJ’s words are true. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
It did happen. Even in such a day and age as today.
Unity can happen.
And now I’ve seen how it can be done . . .
With my very own eyes.
Thank you, Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, for leading us in prayer.
by Chuck Carr
For more info about the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, visit this link:
Thanks to all the sponsors of the event. You made great things happen!
