When the earth moves, it’s time to pray

2010 January 16

by Mark Petersen
My friend Mark wrote this in his blog this morning. I so appreciated it.

Why is it that when we are stripped of everything we possess, that our eyes and hearts turn heavenward? Some in their misery turn and shake their fists at the sky. But even in doing so, acknowledge Someone greater is there to hear their anguish. Others turn and thank God for life. Even if that’s all they have left.

I’m struck by Peter Goodspeed’s article today in the National Post. Port-au-Prince is filled with prayer that lasts throughout the night.

This is probably the poorest and most miserable place on Earth right now, but every night, just as the sun sets, crowds of frightened people gather together in streets and parks to spend the night singing and praying.

They praise God for their misery; thank him for sparing their lives and cheer each other up with rousing choruses of popular Haitian hymns.

At night, you can hear the hymns roll up Port-au-Prince’s earthquake-shattered hills as if they were being delivered directly to heaven by angels.

Songs of praise and shouted prayers of joy rise like smoke from the shattered city.

And more…

All night long, the city is filled with prayer.

Early Friday morning, around 5 a.m., there was a severe aftershock that rattled and broke some homes that were still standing in Delmas. (The one I was in suffered severe damage to the second floor — cracks on the foundation and ceilings).

But within minutes of the quake you could hear a chorus of hymns rising all over Port-au-Prince in the dark.

The people in the Antoine Izméry soccer field sang “Alleluia, Alleluia …” over and over again. People passing in the street in the dark picked up the tune and sang along at the top of their lungs.

It was a mournful but determined singing and it helped take the edge off the people’s fear.

“There is a lot of praying going on,” says Mr. Pierre. “People sing and pray here all night,” he says. “Their churches are all gone but they still have faith.

“Anytime the Earth moves, it’s time to pray. You are going to hear a lot of prayers in Port-au-Prince when you’re here. We need it.”