Here is the icon of the Mother of God ~ Searcher for the Lost. Her eyes are wide open; she sees. The edge of her ear beneath her cap; she listens. The lamp's flame invites us to pray from an expanding heart.
with you I am wide awake
for the children lost to untreated disease,
malnutrition,
abortion and infanticide.
O Lady, Searcher for the Lost,
with you I am watching
for the children lost to sex trafficking,
child-soldiering,
kidnapping and border separation.
O Lady, Searcher for the Lost,
with you I am listening
for the children lost to murder,
domestic violence,
parental neglect and addiction.
O Lady, Searcher for the Lost,
with you my heart is attentive
for the children lost to degradation,
poor example,
slavery and child labor.
O Lady, Searcher for the Lost,
with you my heart has room
for the children lost to gun mayhem,
rejection,
drowning and dehydration along the refugee-way.
O Lady, Searcher for the Lost,
with you my consciousness holds
the children lost in war zones,
disaster areas,
unclaimed and un-named.
O Lady, Searcher for the Lost,
with you I stand in heart-solidarity
with the children lost in terror,
tears,
broken-hearted and lonely.
O Lady, Searcher for the Lost,
patterning for us:
every child welcomed,
every child wanted.
