Prayer of a Refugee

Source: the author
Prayer of a refugee

 Death is not far away.
 Death is never far away.

I went to my sister's house.
The house was no longer there.
My sister was no longer there.
Her husband was not there.
Her children were gone.

Lord, where are you?

I left my house,
With my husband,
With my children.
I took what I could;
It was not much.

Lord, do you hear me?

I walked for nights
Trying to avoid the enemy
My children are hungry;
My husband hurt his foot;
I am very tired.

Lord, do you see us?

We arrive at the boat.
The sum is not enough.
I stay with the two youngest.
My husband goes with the older one

In the boat that is crowded with
people like us.

Two days later,
I hear that a boat has been shipwrecked.
I try to contact my husband and my son.
Silence.
Nothing.

Lord, where were you?
Did you hear their desperate cries?
Did you see them sink into the sea?

On this World Day of Migrants and Refugees, let us be
the hands, feet, eyes and ears of the Lord. 
Let us act now!

Norbert Piché is the Directeur national Service jésuite des réfugiés - Country Director Jesuit Refugee Service – Canada

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3 Comments
  • Sami Helewa., SJ
    Posted at 03:47h, 06 November Reply

    Thank you for capturing what a refugee may experience in an exodus that search for answers from God. Well done.

  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 10:00h, 06 November Reply

    Thank you Norbert!

  • Peggy Spencer
    Posted at 21:51h, 06 November Reply

    I thank you too, Norbert for making me even more aware of the sad, soul destroying fate of so many innocent refugees.

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