Lord, days like today we wish we could wipe off the calendar. The pain crushes our spirits. Seeing you mocked and beaten, spit upon and tortured causes us to turn and flee. Self-preservation takes over and our ability to see one we so love suffering reaches its limits. Forgive us for our denial and our abandonment. We want to stay and bear witness to you, but our will and strength fails us. Terror wins, the terror inside of us and the terror at work all around us. As we hide in horror, help us to remember your promises of peace and redemption, no matter how difficult they are to believe. Amen.
