(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew M. Bradley/Released)
When in Creation
When in creation life is lost, the powers of God seem weak.
When young and old are swept away by rivers in the streets,
We seek the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day,
and pray to God that lives be saved and hope will find a way.
Where is the goodness of our God when seas force life to die?
Where is the powerful love of God when people hurt and cry?
Lord, how your wonders are displayed, wher eer I turn my eye,
O God, our help in ages past, be with the world today.
from: © Tommy Shephard (26 December 2004) published by the United Methodist Church, Board of Discipleship
Some images coming out of Japan are too painful to look at for long. Unimaginable suffering. In the face of such tragedy, prayer seems inadequate.
Thinking of Psalms of Lament, I spoke with Kathryn Rickert, a friend who is an adjunct professor at Seattle University who has made a study of the Biblical prayer of lament and asked about our faith response in such times.
“Part of the problem…. from where we are safe and sound in the USA, is that we can’ t actually lament
unless we see ourselves in the disaster with the people of Japan. From this distance, we are praying for them. To pray for is not the same as to lament with.”
Those of us not in the midst of the unfolding catastrophe in Japan still have lamenting to do. Such events call into question faith in a good God. We struggle to accept the randomness of such a natural disaster. It reveals our vulnerability as well as that of the Japanese people.
Kathryn suggested a song, written as a response to the tsunami and earthquake of December 26, 2004, in memory of the thousands of people who lost their lives.
“…We are actually lamenting our own questions about the disaster,rather than crying out in the first person, near to the destruction,” she said.
I offer the song as a way of giving voice to questions that disturb our sense of fairness and shake our faith. We cry out to God, “Where were you?” “How can this happen?” “What will come next?” “What can happen to me?”
Nothing seems sure when nature itself seems to turn against us.
As in the Psalms of lament, this song ends with an expression of faith that despite feeling abandoned, God is with us and will give us strength and refuge as we face our own “darkest hour,” whenever and wherever that is.
Let us join our prayer with the prayers of the world for those suffering in Japan. Let us face our fears, and pray, too, for all people on this planet who watch what is happening and realize that we are one people on a common journey fraught with pain and struggle that we cannot understand. May we find comfort and hope in the Pascal mystery we are preparing to celebrate.
Jesus, hanging on the cross, gave voice to his anguish: Why have you abandoned me? Jesus rose in glory.
©2011 Mary van Balen
When in Creation
When in creation life is lost, the powers of God seem weak.
When young and old are swept away by rivers in the streets,
We seek the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day,
and pray to God that lives be saved and hope will find a way.
Where is the goodness of our God when seas force life to die?
Where is the powerful love of God when people hurt and cry?
Lord, how your wonders are displayed, wher eer I turn my eye,
O God, our help in ages past, be with the world today.
How can the glory of our God be known through tragedy
When water, rock and sand be made to kill humanity?
While all that borrows life from you is ever in your care,
O God where were you on that day when darkness shook our sphere?
When in creation life is lost, we turn to God for peace,
And seek the one who came to serve the greatest and the least,
O Christ whose presence comes to us in the Spirits flowing power,
Abide with us and give us strength to face lifes darkest hour.
© Tommy Shephard
(The text incorporates lines from Isaac Watts 1715 text I Sing the Mighty Power of God)
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