Today the burden of the horror and tragedy of abuse, especially child sexual abuse, and domestic\/ family violence have descended upon me. How I yearn for a healthy Australia.<\/p>\n
In my despair, I turn to the God of Life who in the words of this morning’s collect is the One who in love yearns for us that we might live in love for one another.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Words are so inadequate to capture the heart, yet my heart and mind crave to form the turmoil and pain and\u00a0speak it out\u00a0in plea and passion to God\u00a0while\u00a0straining for\u00a0even the barest\u00a0glimmer of hope in this darkness.<\/p>\n
I turn to my prayer book and ask, however inarticulately,\u00a0God to hear the deep sentiments of\u00a0my heart, sentiments\u00a0so embedded in this prayer –<\/p>\n
Loving God,
\nwhose Son was both victim and victor,
\nwe cry to you for those who suffer abuse,
\n(especially\u2026- and I\u00a0include people I know)<\/i>
\nBe with them in confusion and pain.
\nHeal the wounds of body and mind;
\nbreak open the prisons of fear, self-doubt and despair;
\nand strengthen them to face the future with faith, hope and courage.
\nEnable us to listen, to believe and to love.
\nReach out to them with your love,
\nthat they may be made whole in body, mind and spirit,
\nthrough the healing touch of the suffering Christ. Amen.<\/p>\n
and\u00a0I pray this prayer too –<\/p>\n
Judge of all the earth,
\nGod of justice,
\nwe bring before you all who abuse others.
\nTurn the hearts of the violent from the way of evil.
\nFill them with a hatred of the damage they do,
\nso bringing them to true repentance
\nand amendment of their lives,
\nfor Jesus Christ\u2019s sake. Amen.<\/p>\n
(From A Prayer Book for Australia<\/i>, The Anglican Church of Australia 1995.)<\/p>\n
In times of turmoil, I also turn for words to express something of my heart,\u00a0to Archbishop Oscar Romero’s prayer\/ poem, A Future Not Our Own (also known as \u2018The Long View\u2019)<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today the burden of the horror and tragedy of abuse, especially child sexual abuse, and domestic\/ family violence have descended upon me. How I yearn for a healthy Australia. In my despair, I turn to the God of Life who … Continue reading