Prayer

24 March, 2010 by Florence

The earth has cracked, not just once but many times, to reestablish its own balance. Again in our history, in our lifetime, Haiti has been brought to rubble and the entire world has been brought to attention.

The extent of the suffering is staggering; we have lost friends, family and loved ones in the death toll that continues to climb; and just yesterday there were reports of rapes of young women in the makeshift tents of Port-au-Prince. Those of us who are not in Haiti felt the blow from a distance. Yet there is no lessening of the immense pain. Yet in the midst of it all there are shards of light underneath the rubble: the rescue of a tiny infant who seemed bent on surviving against massive odds; people holding spontaneous prayer vigils in the square to rekindle their faith and inspire hope; and a massive outpouring of the world.

We know that when events such as these occur on such a massive scale there are things both external and internal we must do. All around us there is evidence of the external work being done: providing shelter, water, safety, tending to the injured, burying the dead. The internal work has to do with prayer, prayer and meditation so that we may better be able to take account of what has happened in order to build a new path forward.

We pray for the souls of those departed. Pray for all left behind to hold their grief in this time of distress.
Pray for all of those who are in emotional pain.
Pray for all who are in physical pain and in urgent need of medical attention and love.
Pray for all of those who have lost faith, hope and friendship with God.
Pray for all of those who have become desperate.
Pray for all who have lost peace of mind, that we may be restored.
Pray that we learn to open our hearts to light and love, forgiveness and an end to all resentment.
Pray for good courage, fortitude to go the distance.
Pray that as a nation we seek Divine guidance to do what is required to find a good path ahead.
Pray that we learn to reverence and protect all of live and all human life.

In solidarity,

Marie-Florence Jean-Joseph
Grande Servante de L’Eglise Vodou d’Haiti