A white ribbon to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Right-to-life Awareness. White Ribbon. فارسی: روبان سفید، نماد بینالمللی آگاهی و توجه به مبارزه با خشونت علیه زنان است. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Lord, there is so much pain, so much hurt in our world.
The violence of rape and murder threaten to destroy our society,
Not by tearing us apart, but by leaving us indifferent.
Sometimes we nurture holiness as a barrier,
to keep us aloof from the darkness and violence around us.
But your holiness is not a barrier separating you from us;
It is a gift, which brings you closer to the pain and sorrow of the world.
The rape and murder of Anene Booysens and the terrible death of Reeva Steenkamp
have shocked us wide awake.
Lord, keep us alert to every rape, every murder, every child without a home.
Show us how to listen,
Show us how to care,
Show us how to reach out into our neighbourhood and our community
To bring your hope and healing, your peace and love.
Live in us; shine the pure light of your holiness through us
Into the dark corners of our lives and our community,
To heal the broken, to bring hope to the hopeless and peace to our troubled times.
Make our lives and our community a home for the homeless
In Jesus’s name.
Related articles
- Tears for Anene Booysen (blogs.forward.com)
- Rape: The Culture of Silence (dawn.com)
- Engaging with others: A prayer for hope and healing (wondering preacher)
Wondering Preacher 
Such heaviness of heart, as I read. I am very glad that you spoke about God’s holiness as not being a barrier, but a gift which brings Him closer to our pain–when we’re hurting, we need Him closer. God bless you and your family–love, sis Caddo
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Thanks Caddo. These two tragedies have hit us all here at the southern tip of Africa and, indeed, around the world. I couldn’t ignore them in our prayers on Sunday night. But they are sadly the “media” crimes; everyone else falls beneath the radar and we are suitably anaesthetised.
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Well said my friend. Amen
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Thanks Jim.
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