SUICIDE PRAYER

Lord, embrace her. Embrace him.

Lord embrace us as we try to figure

out just what happened here.

Suicide is often filled with silence

and questions - words and feelings -

sometimes made of razor blades,

sometimes made of rope, bullet or pill.

Sometimes we just don’t know what

happened here. What to do?

Take time, spend more time

with others, step back, embrace each other,

take long walks, step back, help each other

get through this dark night. Go to the waters.

Take long showers. Pray. Write. Talk.

Suicide can be filled with anger, guilt, shame,

the dark unknown- the fish hook of questions.

Bring some good out of his - please.

Lord, in the meanwhile look

from your cross - your tree on Calvary -

see Judas hanging on his tree in the distance

and let him hear before he dies your words,

“Father forgive them because they don’t know

what they are doing.” Amen.  

©  Andy Costello, Prayers 2012

Painting on top Mindy Newman - the Judas Tree