Governor Gregoire Addresses the Governor's Prayer Breakfast (As Written)

March 2, 2007

Thank you, Paull (Senator Shin).

It�s a pleasure to be here today and to take some time away from our daily routines to rejuvenate ourselves. I want to thank Wes Anderson for organizing this event and giving us this opportunity to reflect and pray.

In keeping with today�s theme of unity and reconciliation, I want to share a passage from First Corinthians. The Scriptures remind us that despite our many differences we are held together by a common thread.

Chapter 12, Verses 4 � 11 say: �There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.�

We all live out our faith in different ways whether as legislators, pastors, or citizens � and we are inspired in different ways � but it is for the same purpose, the common good.

One of the many ways Sen. Shin demonstrates his faith is as an advocate for adopted children. He travels around the world to visit with Korean adoptees on behalf of a local adoption organization, letting these children know that they are valued and loved.

And Rep. Pearson shows his faith by bringing together friends, family and community members regularly for prayer. He demonstrates his love and respect for others by reaching out to those who are hurting and praying both for and with them.

That is one of the wonders of God�s imagination. He calls us to act in so many different ways and gives all of us such diverse talents and abilities. Then he asks that it lead not to division but unity, for no matter what our partisan stripe, personality difference or our political title, we are dependent on one another.

Verses 21 - 26 of Chapter 12 go on to say:

�The eye cannot say to the hand, �I don't need you!� And the head cannot say to the feet, �I don't need you!� On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.�

Unity is not an easy task. Divisions in the houses of God, the houses of government or the houses in our communities are truly as old as the Scriptures. The task to honor what unites us rather than what divides is difficult.

In the daily rush of our lives it often takes a personal or even national tragedy to give us pause to appreciate what brings us together. The challenge is difficult but the Scriptures point the way.

That is my prayer this morning � that we offer thanks to our creator for the gifts of each and every one of us. That we allow the beauty of the diverse talents that God bestowed upon us to reconcile our differences and that we go forth in service to each other and our great state of Washington.

Thank you.

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