A Prayer After the Earthquake in Haiti
Lord, at times such as this,
when we realize that the ground beneath our feet
is not as solid as we had imagined,
we plead for your mercy.
As the things we have built crumble about us,
we know too well how small we truly are
on this ever-changing, ever-moving,
fragile planet we call home.
Yet you have promised never to forget us.
Do not forget us now.
Today, so many people are afraid.
They wait in fear of the next tremor.
They hear the cries of the injured amid the rubble.
They roam the streets in shock at what they see.
And they fill the dusty air with wails of grief
and the names of missing dead.
Comfort them, Lord, in this disaster.
Be their rock when the earth refuses to stand still,
and shelter them under your wings when homes no longer exist.
Embrace in your arms those who died so suddenly this day.
Console the hearts of those who mourn,
and ease the pain of bodies on the brink of death.
Pierce, too, our hearts with compassion,
we who watch from afar,
as the poorest on this side of the earth
find only misery upon misery.
Move us to act swiftly this day,
to give generously every day,
to work for justice always,
and to pray unceasingly for those without hope.
And once the shaking has ceased,
the images of destruction have stopped filling the news,
and our thoughts return to life’s daily rumblings,
let us not forget that we are all your children
and they, our brothers and sisters.
We are all the work of your hands.
For though the mountains leave their place
and the hills be tossed to the ground,
your love shall never leave us,
and your promise of peace will never be shaken.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
now and forever. Amen.
Copyright © 2010, Diana Macalintal.
Permission is given to reprint for non-commercial use.
Original source: Website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose, California
http://www.dsj.org/being-
If you are moved to give financially, I highly, highly recommend giving through The United Methodist Church's relief agency, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). The Methodists are often the first on the scene and usually the last to leave, and 100% of your donation goes to the rescue, relief, and recovery work, as the church covers all administrative costs. To donate, visit here.
I just printed that prayer and am about to give it to Wade to see if he wants to use it this morning. We're doing our UMCOR offering this morning too like good little Methodists. :) Oh, and I just gotta say, Wade is baptizing two of my youth today! I'm so excited! (I get the youth, Wade gets the rest of the church. LOL!)
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