In silence

a prayer by Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer
The Day of Silence - April 18, 2007

In silence...

remembering and honoring students, teachers,
family members, friends, lovers and loved ones,
who died this week on the campus of Virginia Tech.

Silence...
protesting harassment and violence
motivated by bias,
un-compassion.

Silence...
against the words of prejudice and bigotry
veiled in humor which demean another

Silence...
in solidarity 
with those who live in fear
with those who are alienated and rejected
with whose lives are not acknowledged

Silence...
expressing what is too deep for words

Silence...
listening
to the still small voice of the still-speaking God 
speaking peace and love and compassion
and justice, and love, and forgiveness, and wholeness,
and love, and forgiveness, and love, and justice,
and love, and forgiveness, and love, and justice,
and love, and love, and love, and love, and love,…

eternally

speaking silently
deep beneath the hum of the earth,
moving mountains of indifference,
and apathy, and vested self-interests,
cutting through every façade of superiority, every –ism,
stripping pretension with revelation, naked truth,
the very essence of humanity,
where each one bears the same image,
imago dei, image of God,
one common identity:

child of God

Silence...
to remember again and again and again
who I am
who you are
who we all are

In silence

Amen