This prayer is published in Prayers From Iceland
God of healing and grief,
We know that light dawns in a weary world,
but we are too numb to notice it today.
Regardless, we pray mightily,
during this time when no words can salve our ache.
Protect our hearts,
we are too broken and exhausted.
Sit with us when we are overwhelmed
help us to endure
the waiting,
the media,
the investigating,
those eavesdropping on our tragedy,
those making this tragedy about themselves,
those who say offensive things trying to help
and everything else that will bug us.
help us to care for ourselves
mind, body, spirit and psyche,
to remember to eat,
to sleep when we can,
to make the healthiest choices available,
to accept help when we need it
and to say “no” when we need to
help us to lean into hope, light and love,
to cherish our life and live it fully,
to advocate for others who are vulnerable,
to eventually transform anger into medicine
and to prevent days like this
from ever happening again
We are angry that Your healing hand
was unable to prevent this tragedy.
We demand Your unending streams of justice come again,
quickly,
to repair what was broken
Provide wisdom, safety and love to all the first responders.
Guide the hands of nurses, doctors and coroners
who are caring for those who were injured or died.
Mend our community,
knit us together into a kin-dom of loving kindness,
unite us in mutual support of one another
and help us to breathe together
when there is nothing else we can do.
Above all, be with us today and every day
Amen
