this is a prayer
for fragile
times.
for the
panic,
vague or
impeding.
for the unsettling,
the worry,
the disruption + disappointment.
this is a prayer
for all of those
who have lived
days, weeks, months,
lives
such as this
unsure about their
water or the
mosquito by the bed
or the empty
store shelves.
this is a prayer
for all of us.
for the world without
borders,
with gratitude for
the health many enjoy,
with petition for
those who have
lived this
uncertainty
ongoing.
this is a prayer,
not of comfort
or a plea for change.
this is a prayer
because i know we are scared,
i know everything is
changing and
life won’t ever quite
be the same.
and i don't know much else.
i do know that seasons
can shake us and
tragedy can re-align
and fear can bring
us together or keep
us apart.
isolation may be the
appropriate
response but
somehow we are
truly in this together.
pan meaning
‘all’
meaning
‘of everything'
meaning
‘all of us’
nothing will be untouched.
so this is a prayer
for the nurse,
for the ambulance driver,
for the small business.
this is a prayer for
the nursing home staff.
for each elder.
for patient zero.
a prayers for the stockbroker,
the pilot,
the WHO.
this is a prayer for
my mom and dad.
and all those who are
frailer
and all of those
stronger
than i
this is for the families
who have been hungry,
the hospitals who are
already suffering,
the infrastructure that is weak.
this is a prayer for the
lot of us.
for the lonely about to
be lonelier.
for the immune-compromised,
for the decision-makers,
for the border-closers.
this is a prayer for the
governments
the CEO’s
the asymptomatic.
this is a prayer
where we
don’t hold
hands
but we still
give thanks
for all that we
have
and we ask for
grace
in
perilous times
in fragile
times
and we pray for
those whose
lives have known
peril far greater
for those whose days
have always been
lived in fear of
disease and danger
lurking
but this is a prayer,
against fear.
a prayer against panic.
a prayer to fight
the unknown
with snippets
of peace.
and uncommon
kindness.
we don’t know how
this will end.
but it will end.
and it won't be the end.
though fragility is our
nature,
and so is our strength.
these times, they
remind us
of what lies beneath.
and whatever comes,
may we face
each moment
with generosity,
grace, and open
(carefully washed)
hands.
because we are (truly)
in this
together.