A Prayer for our broken world.

Yesterday, at church in Fakenham, we sang the hymn, For the healing of the Nations, by Fred Kaan. The second line begins, ‘Lord we pray’, a reminder that hymns are musical prayers which begin life as prayer/poems. As such they are an important part of our devotional resource, whether they be as hymns, psalms, anthems of chants. This prayer by Fred Kaan speaks deeply to our human condition which cries out for healing of our brokenness in so many ways.

For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord,
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us forward into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned:
pride of status, race or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow brief life’s span.

You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.

Fred Kaan

Fred Kaan was uniquely placed to offer this poetic insight of a world in need of healing. As a child of the occupation of the Netherlands, he experienced first-hand the horrors of Nazism, His parents were part of the Resistance in Holland and they also sheltered a young Jewish woman who was kept safe for over two years. Fred was doubtless shaped by a global conflict which was also experienced personally. He was filled with a passion for social justice, global peace and a reconciliation between people. When he discovered Christ, this strong desire met the explosive love of the Gospel. His faith was expressed in Christian ministry and a spirituality that found expression in prayer/poems which could be sung powerfully as hymns or quietly as Gospel -based prayers as part of personal devotion.
It is offered here as a pinprick of soul-light for our praying.
After all, for many, the best action for human justice, freedom and the outpouring of love, is through prayer. Action flows from prayer because it changes us.

To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

[Mr G]

***for more on Fred Kaan see my blog entry June 29^th 2023

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