lightly stepped a yellow star to its lofty place

- Yahweh - Great Spirit - God -

t

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*

Look with compassion upon the whole human family;

Take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts;

Break down the walls which separate us;

Unite us in bonds of love;

and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish good purposes 

on earth and in all the heavens,

so that all nations and races may serve with peace and love.*

Amen  

Aho

Hallelujah

Each morning I walk the beaches across the street from my home. 

Often I bring a trash bag with me

and collect pieces of plastic, water bottles, straws (so many darn straws),

things that no one wants anymore. 

things that we don't care about any more.

Lately, I have been considering the fact that the tide on my beach gives way to other beaches

where the bodies of little boys wash up on the shore like bits of refuse

t

~~~

So many refugees fleeing for their lives

millions and millions of refugees

little boys that no one saw

mothers and fathers and sisters and grandmothers and uncles and aunts and grandfathers and neighbors and friends and teachers and brothers and preachers and warriors and lovers and haters and writers and musicians and children and children and children and children and children and children and children

that no one sees

can one individual life make a difference?

and I bend to pick  another straw up off the beach

and I am engulfed in sadness

God's speed little Aylan

may you lie down with heroes and martyrs and saints

and may you wake up all nations

*Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer

I is for....Individual