Needing You so badly, Lord

Two of my students have recently lost a close family member in Afghanistan: one an Afghan whose wife has been shot and the other a UK born woman whose soldier-son has been blown up by a roadside bomb – both by the hands of the Taliban.  Indeed 11 November 2010 was one of those awful, unforgettable days. The lady I mentioned burst into the class; some members of the military had visited her in the early hours of that morning and informed her that her son was dead. Despite my persuasions, she would not go home. Ironically, being November 11, I had already decided we would have a minutes silence at eleven – the most poignant minute’s silence I have ever known – as with the huge burden of grief upon her shoulders, she sat there, near me, in agonised silence.

Oh sad, sad land

  Earth stained crimson red

    Blood shrieking from the soil

   

‘Another senseless death’

And mothers weep, young women cry

  Strong men bow low with grief

   When will You come, oh God?

 ‘Come stop the carnage’

If hearts can turn to You, then let them turn

  If hearts can soften, let them do so

    If there is but a little crack

Then enter where You can, where You’re allowed

It is a start ….

And yes, Oh Christ who wept with Mary

   Enter once again …. soften this heart of mine

    That I might feel and weep and hold … and

                  

Needing You so badly, Lord

O sad, sad world, and sad, sad …. Afghanistan.

  Your grief has over-spilled  …. beyond once-pleasant land

    It has reached – even to here.