THE
PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. (Applause.) Thanks for the
warm welcome. Laura and I are delighted to be here. This lovely
personality said this morning, keep your remarks short. (Laughter.)
I appreciate this prayer breakfast a lot, and I appreciate the
spirit in which it was formed. Ike said he was living in the loneliest
house in America -- for what he got to say is, the rent is pretty good.
(Laughter.)
It's great to be here with distinguished guests from all around the
world. Your Majesty and Prime Ministers and former Prime Ministers,
friends with whom I have the honor to work, you're welcome here. I
appreciate the fact that people from different walks of life, different
faiths have joined us. Yet I believe we share one thing in common: We're
united in our dedication to peace and tolerance and humility before the
Almighty. (Applause.)
I want to thank Senators Pryor and Coleman for putting on this
breakfast. I appreciate Senator Frist, Representative Blunt,
Representative Pelosi, other members of the United States Congress
who've joined us on the dais and who are here for this breakfast. I
thank the members of my Cabinet who are here. Get back to work.
(Laughter.)
I find it interesting that the music is from Arkansas. (Laughter.)
I'm glad it is, because they know how to sing down there. (Laughter.)
You know, I was trying to figure out what to say about Bono --
(laughter) --
BONO: Careful. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: And a story jumped to mind about these really good
Texas preachers. And he got going in a sermon and a fellow jumped up in
the back and said, "Use me, Lord, use me." And the preacher ignored him,
and finished his sermon. Next Sunday he gets up, and cranking on another
sermon. And the guy jumps up and says, "Use me, Lord, use me." And after
the service, he walked up to him and said, "If you're serious, I'd like
for you to paint the pews." Next Sunday, he's preaching, the guy stands
up and says, "Use me, Lord, use me, but only in an advisory capacity."
(Laughter.)
So I've gotten to know Bono. (Laughter.) He's a doer. The thing about
this good citizen of the world is he's used his position to get things
done. You're an amazing guy, Bono. God bless you. (Applause.)
It is fitting we have a National Prayer Breakfast, because our nation
is a nation of prayer. In America, we do not prescribe any prayer. We
welcome all prayer. We're a nation founded by men and women who came to
these shores seeking to worship the Almighty freely. From these
prayerful beginnings, God has greatly blessed the American people, and
through our prayers, we give thanks to the true source of our blessings.
Americans remain a prayerful people today. I know this
firsthand. I can't tell you the number of times out there traveling our
country, people walk up, total strangers, and say, Mr. President, I'm
praying for you and your family. It is one of the great blessings of the
presidency, and one of the most wonderful gifts a person can give any of
us who have the responsibility to govern justly. So I thank my fellow
citizens for their gracious prayers and wonderful gifts.
Every day, millions of Americans pray for the safety of our troops,
for the protection of innocent life, and for the peace we all hope for.
Americans continue to pray for the recovery of the wounded, and to pray
for the Almighty's comfort on those who have lost a loved one. We give
thanks daily for the brave and decent men and women who wear our
nation's uniform, and we thank their families, as well.
In this country, we recognize prayer is a gift from God to every
human being. It is a gift that allows us to come before our Maker with
heartfelt requests and our deepest hopes. Prayer reminds us of our place
in God's creation. It reminds us that when we bow our heads or fall to
our knees, we are all equal and precious in the eyes of the Almighty.
In prayer, we're reminded we're never alone in our personal trials or
individual suffering. In prayer, we offer our thanksgiving and praise,
recognizing our lives, our talents and all that we own ultimately flow
from the Creator. And in these moments of our deepest gratitude, the
Almighty reminds us that for those to whom much has been given, much is
required.
In prayer, we open ourselves to God's priority, especially His charge
to feed the hungry, to reach out to the poor, to bring aid to the widow
or the orphan. By surrendering our will to God's will, we learn to serve
His eternal purposes. Through prayer, our faith is strengthened, our
hearts are humbled and our lives are transformed. Prayer encourages us
to go out into the world and serve.
In our country, we recognize our fellow citizens are free to profess
any faith they choose, or no faith at all. You are equally American if
you're a Hebrew -- a Jew or a Christian or Muslim. You're equally
American if you choose not to have faith. It is important America never
forgets the great freedom to worship as you so choose. (Applause.)
What I've found in our country, that whatever our faith, millions of
Americans answer the universal call to love your neighbor just like
you'd like to be loved yourself. Over the past five years, we've been
inspired by the ways that millions of Americans have answered that call.
In the face of terrorist attacks and devastating natural disasters here
and around the world, the American people have shown their faith in
action again and again. After Katrina, volunteers from churches and
mosques and synagogues and other faith-based and community groups opened
up their hearts and their homes to the displaced. We saw an outpouring
of compassion after the earthquake in Pakistan and the tsunami that
devastated entire communities. We live up to God's calling when we
provide help for HIV/AIDS victims on the continent of Africa and around
the world.
In millions of acts of kindness, we have seen the good heart of
America. Bono, the true strength of this country is not in our military
might or in the size of our wallet, it is in the hearts and souls of the
American people. (Applause.)
I was struck by the comment of a fellow who was rescued from the Gulf
Coast and given shelter. He said, "I didn't think there was so much love
in the world." This morning we come together to recognize the source of
that great love. We come together before the Almighty in prayer, to
reflect on God's will, to seek His aid, and to respond to His grace.
I want to thank you for the fine tradition you continue here today. I
pray that our nation will always have the humility to commend our cares
to Providence and trust in the goodness of His plans.
May God bless you all. (Applause.)