I Have No Power to Save

When storms rake paths of death.
leaving lives uprooted and bereft,
I have no power to save.

When the sun beats hard—drying earth and air,
creating death-by-thirst for everything, everywhere,
I have no power to save.

When powers-that-be oppress
because of ethnicity and race,
terrorizing communities,
leaving people demoralized, debased,
I have no power to save.

When nations fight wars that can never be won,
creating death and destruction,
leaving millions on the run,
I have no power to save.

I have no power to save, so think to turn away,
but find myself instead, fallen, weeping on my face.
Weeping for a way, someway.

Help me listen closely to desperate, frightened hearts.
Give me the humanity to weep, to bow, to fall.
Then raise me, weeping still,
strengthen me, show me my part.

May I make amends to the earth
we’ve raped, pillaged, paved,
allow me to see all others
through your eyes of love and grace,
empower me to follow you—
as you heal, as you restore, as you save.