George Floyd: responding with prayers of lament

A prayer written by the Hudson sisters     

Lord, how long?
From the depths of our soul we cry,
How long?
From generation to generation
your children have suffered.
How long?
Our pain is great.

How long, Lord?
Day and night we cry out to you,
How long do we see our loved ones crushed
under the yoke of hate and injustice?
Weighed down by societies institutional bias.

God, you are the God of all,
From before the beginning of time
you are sovereign God.
Your mercy endures from everlasting to everlasting.
Show us your hand of mercy
at this time, in this generation.

Let your power be manifest throughout your earth,
Heal your lands,
Heal all minds,
Heal all hearts.
For it is only you, our God,
who can create a new heart
and a spirit of love and compassion
in those hearts that are as stone.

Lord, order our steps,
May we all march in one accord.
Move through us by your might,
For you are the power and the glory.

So, in our struggle,
We will still praise you,
We will still lift our hands in prayer towards you,
We will do your will,
Whilst we wait on you.

For we know you are with us in the storm
And that healing, peace and joy
Will come in the morning.
Amen.

A lament written by Jane Day

I WOKE UP

A new day
I was aware of my breath
And then it hit me
Sheets soaked with sweat
Snotty nose
Twisted tissues
Sticky eyes
I had been mourning in my sleep
I wanted to get up
I was aware of my emotions
Unspeakable anger
All the D words
Depressed
Defeated
Down
I tried to get up
I was aware of my body
Limp legs
Wobbly bowel
Sick to the stomach
Compressed chest
And then
I remembered his name
Ever so slowly
George Floyd
The one whose breath was not respected
I couldn’t say his name out loud
Instead I stayed in bed
Cushioned in my comfort blanket

And wept for a very long time