24th February
News reports "there is war in Europe".
War in Europe!
Not a historical tale
It's happening today.
Russian troops have entered Ukraine.
World leaders are meeting,
talking,
deciding what they can do.
To halt this course of action
To stop war from escalating
But diplomacy is failing
So I am praying
Finding peace in art
Amidst the horror of war
I keep on praying
Week commencing 28th February
Ripples of prayer
Circulating round the world
We're calling for peace
Praying for Protection
Praying for Peace
Praying for Political resolutions
Praying for the People
Praying for Practical interventions
Praying for
Praying for
Praying for Possible solution
Praying for every Precious life
Refugees fleeing
Desperately leaving
Everything
Everything!
Taking only what they can carry
Can you imagine?
What would you put in a bag?
A suitcase
For your whole family
I bet you struggle with holiday packing
And this is most likely
For EVER
Women
Children
Elderly
Disabled
Leaving suddenly
Separated from family
Lives in catastrophe
As their men go to war
This is the reality
Of life as a refugee
And yet politically
They're seen as....
Greedy
Needy
Unworthy
Disgustingly
How dare we!
This could be
You or me
By luck of our birth
We live in safety
Work professionally
Whilst doctors and nurses
Teachers and engineers
Flee from their lives
To futures unknown
The least we can do
Is open our doors
And offer new homes
In safety
Praying for Ukraine
Connected around the world praying for peace
We cry tears of frustration
Not knowing how to respond
As situations around the world overwhelm us
Prayer keeps us strong
Week commencing 7th March
A storm is on us
All of us
Swirling
Whirling
Building
We have no way of knowing
How it will end
Some in boats float past
Barely noticing
Whilst others cling to flotsam
Crying
And I feel so impotent
All I can do is paint
And poetically rant
But what help is that?
So I pray
With too many words to say
Yet the words won't come
My voice is numb
But thankfully
God needs no words to be said
He knows what's needed
What's in our heads
Hope starts to build
And I remember that the world is filled
With goodness in people everywhere
For them I give thanks in prayer
He can destroy homes
Makes families refugees
But their hope remains
Praying
Praying
Praying for peace
Praying for the injured
Praying for the dead
Praying for the grieving
Praying for the refugees
Praying for compassion
Praying
Praying
Women and children
Targeted in hospitals
These are war crimes
Clouds of refugees Fleeing to safer places
Far from clouds of war
Calling poets, writers and artists to submit for a book about and by refugees. "Light of Hope" will raise money for the charity Phone Credit for Refugees and will be published by Refugee Week in June 2022.
Open up the doors Making enough room for all Gift of hope and love
Houses of Hope
In every shape and colour
Opened for strangers
Those at the very top
The lucky
The rich
The privileged
Look down on the world
Judging those they can not see
Those they left behind
Or never even met
Those hidden from sight
Beneath clouds of reality
At the summit they sit
In judgement
Bathed in the sun
Wondering why....
"Why don't they try harder?
Why do they say it's so hard?
Why are they complaining?
Why, why, why, why?"
They stick together
Completely unaware
Without a single care
Not wanting to care
For fear
That might cause an avalanche
Might be their downfall
Yet somehow
They find shelter
From the harshest weather
Supporting each other
Thinking they are cleverer
Pluckier
Instead of, by birth luckier
Divisions cause pain
Families separated
Needing our support
Breaking down borders
Travelling to safer places
Searching for a home
We are connected
Even in separation
Build understanding
Week commencing 14th March
Physically Painting for Ukraine
Angels now wander
Where children used to play
In empty homes and flattened schools
Behind hospital walls now turned to rubble
Absorbing blossoming fears
Silently blessing the earth with tears
From the rubble of lives
Beauty emerges unexpectedly
Never give up hope
From darkest places
Life can seem impossible
Keep looking for hope
Generosity
Overflows for Refugees
Spring tide of welcome
Angels here on earth
Stepping up to help others
Praying for the world
Every child matters
A perfect life lost to war
Praying for peace
Week commencing 21st March
Praying for peace
For safety of everyone
Praying for Ukraine
