Prayer for the People of Libya
by Maren Tirabassi
Holy One, we pray for Libya
in the midst of Storm Daniel's flooding,
this medicane, this time of fear.
For those who grieve
two thousand confirmed dead, we pray.
For those worry and those who search
for ten thousand missing, we pray.
For those who must respond
to the collapsing of two bridges, we pray.
For the great fragility
of the town of Derna, we pray.
For all who must rebuild
home and business and family, we pray.
For fear in children who cannot sleep,
for emptiness of those
who may never find their beloveds,
for the loss of small precious things –
a photograph, a gift passed down
from grandparents now gone,
for education suspended,
for illnesses untended during the crisis,
we pray, hearts open wide
to all the unexpected tragedies.
For the stretched-thin work of Red Crescent
and all who support it, we pray.
For peace between political opponents
working together in this disaster, we pray ,
in all your holy names, Amen.
