An unusual prayer for God's peace.

Gather up your children worn and weary,
Wash our soiled hearts of hate and greed.
Air our minds when all we crave is power.
Dry our tears when all we have is need.

Press this crumpled world back into shape, Lord,
Iron out the creases of our souls.
Gently fold each race and every nation
And darn with peace those places war's made holes.

Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord,
Then shall weapons of war clatter to the ground and battlefields become oases.
Then shall fists clenched in fury become open hands, touching and healing.
Then shall arms, pinned down by the pain of the past, lift little children on to their shoulders.
Then shall minds plagued by fear know the joy of trusting another's voice.
Then shall hearts consumed by hatred fling open their windows to new beginnings, new hope and new friendships.
Then shall bodies crushed in the dust and filth of war, rise up, stretch out and leap like new born lambs.

Come let us walk in the light of the Lord
And watch the world uncurl.