SEN. HARPER PETERSON: A tribute to the victims of COVID-19

It is said that a baby’s first breath is the breath of God. The breath of hope and promise and opportunity.

A baby’s first cry is from the gentle hand of God. From Genesis 2-7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.  And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.  And man became a living soul.” 

I do not pretend to speak for anyone in this chamber. But I am moved to speak with privilege of a senator.

One hundred thousand are dead in our country. Close to 1,000 in our great state.  A black man in Minneapolis. 

The breath of life has been taken from each of them. Each of them was alone at death. 

My prayer for all those is that God was will them. With each of them.  And held them and they were not alone when their last breath was taken.

Every life matters. My God and my religion tell me so.

Over 240 years ago our America, our Republic, our United States was born by the grace and breath of God from the dust of tyranny.

For over 235 years our republic had endured.  It has been a crucible on fire of human right and of equal and civil rights -- Constantly churning.  For all men were created equal and endowed by their creator.  Freedom of speech.  Freedom of religion.  Freedom to breath. 

If I could shout over the arch of American history, over 240 years, it would be that our people cannot breath.

No, I do not speak for anyone except myself. But I can ask each of you – that we pause as individuals, as a legislature and as a nation. 

Take our collective moral temperature and pray for God’s grace and God’s breath.