God of our Mothers & Fathers,

We say we cannot stand to look any more, 
but still we cannot look away

we cannot stop scrolling through 
endless images, their faces, their pleading eyes. 

We write prayers to say in their memory, 
grieve for the agony of their loved ones.

We rail against the cruelty of their captors, 
overwhelmed with fear in the face of such evil.

If we cannot look upon Your face and live,
how do we live when we look upon their faces?

If we cannot know or speak Your name, 
how can we speak the names of so many tortured souls?

We need to see Your face, we need to speak Your name.
Please Compassionate One, do not stay hidden from us.



(c) marthahurwitz2025