A liturgy for peace in the storms.
When the sky grew dark
and the winds whipped up the sea,
You stretched Your arms
from sleep to scepter,
commanding:
“Peace! Be still!”
Now,
as did your followers then,
we cry for rescue,
for us,
for them.
When the mountains quake
and the earth trembles,
keeping time with fast-beating hearts
and quickened breath;
when the gaping mouth of the deep
seems to beckon:
“Peace! Be still!”
When past trauma -
from physical, emotional,
or situational abuse,
from lockdowns and lockouts -
threatens the present
with clouds of hurt and sorrow:
“Peace! Be still!”
When jobs are scarce,
costs rising,
and circumstances stifling;
when fears for the future
drive joy from the present:
“Peace! Be Still!”
When homework piles on homework,
task on task,
duty on duty;
when schedules are crammed
and sleep is elusive;
the pressure an unrelenting vortex:
“Peace! Be still!”
As the wind and the waves obeyed,
so may situations and circumstances,
places and people,
hearts, minds,
and souls.
“Peace! Be still!”
Amen
