You Gave Us, God

Lyrics as Poetry

You gave us, God, this earth to hold and cherish,
to praise you in our
use of time and space,
but— blinded by our greed— the people perish;
we throw the gift of freedom in your face.

As with unhuman madness we offend you
and with our bombs and
bullets break your heart,
with money made from conflict we un-friend you,
we tear with prejudice your world apart.

We glorify the sin of pointless dying
through mines and missiles
poised in soil and sea,
perfect the curse of daily crucifying
the Prince of Peace, each other, you and me.

Raise up among us prophets who will guide us
through action, speech and
silence to your peace,
where fear, mistrust no longer will divide us,
where hurt is healed and captives are released.

Renew in us our faith and trust in Jesus,
the Man, the Woman
in your image made,
and speak again your Word that truly frees us
to beat our sword into a simple spade.