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Katrina Relief Efforts by Todd Jenkins - 9/6/05 2005 Archive - 2006 Archive

We pray for those who lost friends and family members to the natural world’s own Weapon of Mass Destruction that we named, “Katrina”; as if calling the death-dealing angry wind by a familiar name will somehow make it less frightening. Death and destruction by any other name is still death and destruction. Hold and comfort those who are grieving the loss of human life; through Jesus Christ our Lord..... Lord have mercy.

We pray for those who lost homes, jobs, and so many other things to which we tie our identities, at the hands of that monstrous, out-of-control wind and water; that they will have the courage to hang on long enough to rekindle the flicker of hope that lies within us all—a tiny spark that is impervious to wind, water, and all manner of destruction; and that they will find the grace to recognize that disaster offers more than the need to rebuild and re-horde, but also the chance to reexamine and reorder our relationships; through Jesus Christ our Lord.... Lord have mercy.

We pray for all those who believe they didn’t lose anything from Katrina—those who simply feel lucky to be living anywhere else but Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama; that they will recognize their own weaving into the web of the human community, however tangled, distant, or shredded it may seem; through Jesus Christ our Lord.... Lord have mercy.

We pray for all those who, in spite of their distance—both geographically and relationally—from Katrina’s carnage, have bathed their own candle of hope in streams of tears; that they may find the strength to transform their compassion into passion, their ache into action; through Jesus Christ our Lord.... Lord have mercy.

We pray for rescue and recovery workers who are in and will be on the way to the devastation; that they will be strong, courageous, and protected by your outstretched arms and hands; through Jesus Christ our Lord.... Lord have mercy.

We pray for refugees who have traveled and will travel to Lincoln county and beyond, in search of compassion, shelter, food, clothing, and the courage to start over; that they will find our hearts, our community, and our lives open to them; through Jesus Christ our Lord.... Lord have mercy.