A Prayer for New Orleans from ASB ‘08
Apr 9th, 2008 by Hope
Written and presented by Corey McCord for the ASB Chapel Hour in Evelyn Chapel on Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Katrina Victims have seen more than the loss of a home
While we are camping in hope
They make their tents in camp despair
They simply long for an ear
Men and women who lived, breathed and spoke New Orleans
Now bask in loneliness
Their neighbors who they once played cards with, ate dinner with and shared in existence
Now converse with them in complete silence
Many say silence brings solace
Yet, it only reminds them of what they lost
Bodies covered in blankets on a bridge served as a makeshift cemetery
No amount of money can assuage the pain of lost
Babies drowned in extreme poverty from the lack of
Food, clean water and communal care from the nation as a whole
Furniture and ordinary slabs of wood became life boats
As the Justice League and the Teen Titans
Could be seen along the ravaging sea fighting with soap
They were eager to clean away the plague of social negligence
In order to preserve their loved ones from undue pestilence-
an unsympathetic government
Aid did not come from the national commonwealth
Aid came from the hearts of ordinary citizens like you and me.
If patriotism does not exist
In the passion of the steadfastness and commitment to duty we exhibited;
We bear no nationality
Except that which the Divine has coined
God’s children.
We reach out beyond ourselves to grasp those who’ve slipped
To catch them before they reach the pavement
We reach out and grasp those who are high on death
To bring them back to earth’s firmament
When the divine coined the term Angel,
Guardian Angel:
Who would have thought that the Divine would be speaking of us.
We rolled up our selves to gut houses
We walked the 9th ward with a stethoscope and a purpose
We painted over the dark black and grey hues of downtrodden New Orleans
Renewing the city with the color of sunshine
As Angels we walk with a purpose.
Each and everyone of us
Who took time the time out to become apart
Of the history and existence of New Orleans
Have transformed from strangers to family.
We have to remember:
Family does not abandon,
Family does not make excuses for not being there;
Family cares.
Our hearts and souls will will be forever connected to New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish.
For the victims of Katrina, moreover- the victims of social negligence
We pray for your health as your existence is something we eternally cherish
As a community of God’s children
We need to continue to reach out to New Orleans
So they can know someone is caring.
April 2, 2008
