Daily (Lord Acton–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,
you taught us,
through history,
that power tends to corrupt,
and absolute power
corrupts absolutely.

In this world
where tiny devices
carry immense power,
teach me to be wary
of what power
does to me.

When I can see
what others share,
judge them quickly,
and speak without consequence,
remind me that this, too,
is a kind of power.

Help me use it
with humility,
not arrogance.

Protect me from systems
that accumulate
too much control—
platforms that know everything,
companies that track everyone,
voices that go unquestioned.

Let me ask
where accountability lies,
and what safeguards
exist.

Guard my own heart
from delighting
in domination—
from enjoying
someone else’s downfall,
from wielding knowledge
to embarrass or coerce.

And grant that my stewardship
of this digital age
honors the warning
you’ve given through time:
that power must be checked,
character must be cultivated,
and freedom is safest
when we remember
our capacity
to go wrong—
and choose,
day by day,
to do better.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Lord Acton] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Lord Acton], and should not be taken as his real views or words.''

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