Today the Sanctuary’s centre re-opened for 2014. As we look at today’s headlines, and forward to the coming months, we know that we will be praying for peace… again and again. Often in the same nations… again and again. It feels like holding a far-too-easily-breakable hope sometimes. But the very act of continuing to be on our knees, praying alongside those in desperate situations, is far from a fragile gesture to those on the ground.
We recently came across Yvonne Lyon’s beautiful song Again, the lyrics to which are below.
At the start of the year, we want to ask you to commit to join us – again and again – in kneeling and praying rather than walking away.
Whether its Syria, the Central African Republic, Israel and the Palestinian Territories… please let’s remain alongside the people and persistent in our trust in God’s mercy and power – anywhere and everywhere.
Again – Yvonne Lyon
And the world watches on TV again
And the guns fire over our houses again
As the men in their suits talk in circles again
And we see their promises broken again
Can you feel my pain?
Do you know my name?
Do you kneel and pray?
Or do you walk away?
And our story is no longer headlines again
And the war entrenches our heartland again
As the lives of our children are taken again
And the poor and the old are the victims again
Can you see my fear?
Does it seem sincere?
Do you kneel and pray?
Or do you walk away?
And our hope will rise out of darkness again
And the peace that we find will be stronger again
As the wounded endeavour to rebuild again
And our dreams that were stolen return once again
Can you feel my pain?
Do you know my shame?
Do you kneel and pray?
Do you walk away?