On the Wings of Prayer, On the River of Tears

Abba, Father, so many have fallen
     Warriors, soldiers, the ill, the brave
     All far too young to meet their grave

A gateway to Heaven, You’ve met each one there
     Specially chosen for a higher mission
     In the fall, those we love have risen

On the wings of prayer, on the river of tears
     A parent, a child, a sister, a brother…
     Has given their life; forever changed another

Oh, Father, we plead, You hear and You know
     We don’t understand, we long for the answers
     Why him? Why her? Questions are cancer

In faith, in hope, in trust, we pray
     Though not without human frailties; we cling
     Together we muster to weave stronger wings

On the wings of prayer, on the river of tears
     Our babies, our sons, our daughters… we’re shaken
     A great measure of our hearts in their flight they have taken

The grief we swallow mauls too abysmal to bear
     Our warriors, our soldiers, our ill, our brave
     Pink ribbons, yellow ribbons, purple hearts… we’re enslaved

Silently screaming in the wake of our pain
     We cover our hearts, our mouths, raise our hands
     Unabashed the river flows; we dig deeper to stand

Pain is not lost on any one soul
     Every human has suffered the gripping hand of loss
     Be it quiet or shattered, all loss bears a cost

Our loved ones, our families, our friends, our neighbors
     In common we HOPE with FAITH through our fears,
     On the wings of prayer, on the river of tears.

- Jen Miller

Copyright January 2011, All Rights Reserved

Psalm 139:1-10

“You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.”

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