This poem was written in response to the shooting death of Mike Brown and the subsequent rioting and protests in St. Louis
If I never prayed before, today would be the day
That I would fall on my knees and cry out to the Lord and say
Oh how we need you now, more than we ever have before
I’d ask the Lord to show His face, for His mercy I’d implore
We are all God’s children, we are sisters and brothers
But we don’t even respect ourselves, let alone respect others
We don’t value love, we don’t value life
We glorify hatred and zealously stir up strife
If I never prayed before, certainly the time would be now
That I’d pray for peace and healing, and love to abound somehow
I’d pray for that thing called bitterness; that it would be pulled out from the root
I’d pray that people could forgive instead of riot, steal, and loot
I’d pray that anger would turn to action, not to tear down but uplift
I’d pray that in the atmosphere, there would be a shift
That the reaction to injustice would not be violence
That the response to inequality would not be silence
Oh if I never prayed before, I’d pray with a fervent heart
That God I know you’re working, but tell me what’s my part?
What can I do to help end this madness?
What’s my assignment in erasing fear and sadness?
No matter how big or small, there’s got to be a way.
If I never prayed before, I’m gonna have to start today!
