The world held its breath
as the presidential planes flew in
to debate their in-depth summit menu,
in a place where the nations so nearly abut and adjoin;
Alaska, heavy laden with historic associations
that join and divide these imperialist nations.
and tasked to host this important meeting
between two men reeking of pomp and pride.

Putin came, he preened,
serenely took centre stage,
upstaged his host in a dozen different ways,
then made the expected show
of saying how much he desired for peace,
before making it clear, as most knew full well that he would,
that he had not the slightest intention
of renouncing even one of his aims and ambitions.

Referring to ‘root causes’
that exist nowhere outside his imagination,
Putin left his host treading water,
and trying to make the best of a bad job
by passing the buck since he was stuck:
“Over to you, then, Zelensky
and to you Mr Europe,
you go sort it out with Vladimir now
and we’ll be right there at your back.”

It sounded good,
especially when Europe sent its leaders
to flatter and fawn in Dear Donald’s court;
but has yet to prevent the hosts of Russia’s militia
from their daily intent to bomb, strafe and kill,
as their drones and missiles pursue their deadly missions.

If people hoped that this would bring about peace in our times
Perhaps they do well to remember Munich in 1938,
Flutters of promises on scraps of paper,
not worth their weight in pulp;
and yet God is hearing prayers from the millions,
and who know what He will do with those?

Long ago, Sovereign Lord,
You showed the prophet Amos
dread swarms of locusts that would strip the fields bare,
and fire that would sweep through the land,
inducing drought in its wake,
much as wildfires are savaging our continent now.

The prophet cried out then as we do now:
“Sovereign Lord, forgive! Sovereign Lord, intervene.
How can Jacob survive? He is so small!”
You who hear prayer relented then and declared,
‘By My grace, this will not happen.” (Amos 7:1-7)

Look upon this nation’s devastation, Lord
and yet intervene to save both body and soul
From one end of Ukraine’s shrinking borders to the other we pray.

We cannot put our ultimate trust in Kremlin or White House,
masters both of lies and raising false hopes
which they see no obligation to uphold.
But You, O Lord, who are our shield and rock,
and who have set Your plumb line to assess this mess,
look with mercy and address this situation
that threatens to spiral and expand.

Raise up those who will truly serve
in the coalition of the willing,
prepared to do whatever it takes to defuse these threats;
and in the process, Lord, draw many to Yourself.

Comfort the wounded and the dying,
Accompany the bereaved and grieving,
Escort those who must leave home and loved ones
to wage this war, until You say
‘Woe to you destroyer,
Woe to you betrayer;
be gracious to us for we long for You.

Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.
You who dwell on high and who are exalted,
come now with saving grace and let many turn to You:
A harvest of souls out of the morass of destruction. (See Isaiah 35)

Photo by Steve Shots on Unsplash