No Words

Bob Hostetler

Father, I have no words to pray what has been on my heart these past few days;
the scale of the tragedy in New Orleans is dumbfounding.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

But I am only helpless to pray;
your children, the work of your hands, the people of New Orleans
are helpless, period:
what is there to pray for them? Everything, I know,
and yet it's so overwhelming.
Where do YOU begin, God?
How can I pray so as to partner with you
in supplying what those people need?

This, maybe: save them from the "Why" question.
Help them, Lord, not to try to understand.
Focus their minds and hearts on the "What Now?" question,
though even that seems nearly impossible to answer
(but with you, all things are possible).
Help those who have no hope left
by bringing alongside them those who will hope FOR them.
Help those who have no strength
by making others strong on their behalf.
Help those who are bereft
by giving them partners in their grief.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Let relief efforts and every relief worker be an instrument in your hands, Lord.
Use them to accomplish your will.
Make straight paths for their feet.
Show yourself, in every case, to be a father to the fatherless and a friend to the orphan and widow and refugee.

Punish the looters, Lord. With your mighty hand, punish them.
Destroy the swindlers, and all who would take advantage of this awful tragedy.

Bring about unity and wisdom.
Replace floodwaters and rubble with generosity and justice,
in Jesus' name, amen.