Those who were my enemies without cause

have hunted me like a bird;

they flung me alive into a pit

and hurled stones on me;

water closed over my head;

I said, “I am lost.”

I called on your name, O Lord,

from the depths of the pit;

you heard my plea, “Do not close your ear

to my cry for help, but give me relief!”

You came near when I called on you;

you said, “Do not fear!”

You have taken up my cause, O Lord,

you have redeemed my life. 

(Lamentations 3:52-58)

Fear drowns
hearts and minds
Building walls
against the sun.

Seen above (and on home-page mastheads): “Darkness of Chartres West Portal” by Gerard di Falco.

Readings are from Streams of Mercy: a meditative commentary on the Bible by Ann Kristin Haldors Fontaine (used with permission of the author).