The warning on the label

Pandora’s box lay in splinters

Upon the blood-soaked sand

It’s indiscriminate fatal poison

Leaking drop by drop into the ground

And though the waves lapped over it

Then carried it out to sea

It never would be diluted

As ocean currents carried it

To lands both near and far

Pandora’s crumpled form

Lay inert upon the shore,

her head between her hands

She wails and shrieks

She keens and begs

To go back, just once, in time

To recall the curiosity

That led to all the gloom

That feeds on fear and upon itself

And leads to great downfalls

As nation after nation

In arrogance denied its power

Embittered as she realized

The folly of her game

Pandora weeps in sadness

T’is but the birthing of her sorrow

For humanity and life at large

Forever would be changed

By this, her unwise decision

So, let us all take heed

Of the warning on the label

And leave alone Pandora’s box

Lest we live again the fable.

Always here

As the world mourns mounting deaths and sickness

You are here with us

You are always here

Help us remember in the midst of fear and terror

That you are here, always, always here

And let us be comforted

Let us remember past ages

When plagues swept the globe

When all was dark and gloomy

When the pall of death cast a wide net

And people were afraid

But you were there, always, always there

Help us live with the many unknowns

Help us place our trust in you

Until the dust has settled

And the sun comes shining through

All Nations Pray

Nations in mourning

Cry out to you, Divine One

Deep sadness rolls across our lands

Like a creeping fog

We are lost in its mists

Adrift, lost, and alone

Are you still here, Divine One?

Do you hear us call?

Body bags are mounting

Grim reapers at our doors

The death ship sails on and on

Please send your helpers now.

Strengthen our healers

As they work from dawn to dusk

Fighting back an enemy

Without a soul or face

Hear us please, Divine One

Help us in our need

Send despair packing

Let hope arise again

For we feel lost, forsaken

And desperation pervades our being

We need your mercy now

Fill us with your gift of faith

And let wisdom be our guide

Come to us, Oh Holy One

And let your love preside

In every heart, in every mind

Until this fog subsides

I will cling to You

Divine One

I will cling to you

As wild winds blow,

As my small craft goes over waterfalls

That threaten to drown me in fears and anxiety

Lift me now, lift us all

Out of the pit we have stumbled into

Grant us faith so we do not stumble or fall

Grant us the gift of hope

When all is grim and seemingly hopeless

For I know there is always hope

And blessed respite

When I cling to You

In Supplication

Help me hear you

Let the murmuring and the noise fall away

Let me sit with you, Divine One, in the silence,

In the enforced inactivity of these days

Help me reach out in prayer and supplication

Let my prayers rise steadily and irrevocably

Like smoke from incense to You

Help me hear you

Help me be still and know

Know that we are never forgotten

And let us all be comforted in the knowledge

That your power is mightier, stronger

Than anything that exists in this world

And certainly, more powerful

Than the smallest, microscopic, tiniest germs or viruses

Help us all remember that

Now

Remember when

Emotions like

Ping pong balls

Bouncing back and forth, up and down

Dismal lows, irrational highs

Waiting, waiting

For balance,

To level off.

Waiting

For equilibrium

In this abnormal time

Yet what is normal anyway?

Who defines the word?

Perhaps the world is topsy-turvy

In these challenging,

Unprecedented days

Yet one day soon

The world will right itself

And we will look back

And remember when

A prayer for world leaders

Divine One

You see us, you hear us

I come to you now with pain in my heart

So many of our leaders are failing us

Please, Divine One, help them make good decisions

With the health of all people in mind

Divine One, there are so many unknowns

We have never been in a situation like this

Please, grant us your gifts of wisdom and faith

Help our leaders now, and help us too

Grant us courage to speak out when we should

And serenity to accept that which cannot be changed

Divine One, guide us now

Still the fear and panicking

Grant us your calm

Let hope rise, amid all turmoil

Help us remember

You are near

You are always near

Help us turn to you

With open hearts and outstretched hands

Grant us humility

Speak your words of peace into our hearts

And help us reflect your peace into the world

To sing again

Despair has come

Ushering in darkness and pain

And hope has gone the way of the dinosaurs,

Lifeless and seemingly extinct

Now, when all seems lost

And no hero appears

On golden steed

Come, Divine One,

Holy and sacred one,

Breathe new life into your people

Grant us strength to rise again

Help us, now

Help us remember

That all is not lost

No matter how grim the days

Come, Divine One

Holy One

Sacred One

Guide us through this darkness

Help us see

Remove our blindness

And selfish greed

Let joy bubble up through the storm

That swirls like a tornado around us

Still the storm, Divine One

This, my plea

There is goodness still,

Deep, deep inside

Every single human heart and mind

Take away our fear and anxiety,

Our need to control, that which cannot be controlled

And, if it is your will,

Banish now, the microscopic things,

The unknown and hard things,

Until with mighty breath

And a single, united mind,

With strong voice

We sing again

A song of joy and renewal

A Prayer for calm

As the world seems to be coming to a standstill

As borders close

And your people are frozen in fear

Divine One, come

Help us stay calm

Fill us all with your grace

Help us avoid the temptation

To isolate ourselves,

Until and unless isolation becomes necessary

For the good of all

Help us avoid the temptation

To be self seeking

Help us keep our humanity

Fill us with compassion and empathy

Please, Divine One, guide us now

And help us hear Your voice

“You can’t judge a book by its cover”

The photo says little about the man

It is a case where “a picture says a thousand words” is absolutely wrong

He’s smiling, hat tilted in a roughish fashion

Handlebar mustache imitating a walrus, without the tusks

He’s of average build and he looks nice

Photos can be misleading

I never actually knew him

He died long, long ago

But she’s told me stories

Sad, bitter stories of hardship and abuse

Stories of a cold, heartless man

And I felt sad for her, for him

And for whatever made him that way

The way she knew him

Her eyes watered as she looked away

She pursed her lips

And said not one word more

As I remember it now

And the truth of the ancient adage,

“You can’t judge a book by its cover”