I was sitting in church and some of these words started coming at me.  I said no God, I can’t write about this. Even though all the Birds stories are based on real-life events, I can’t write about this one. God was silent until I got home then the words started coming again faster than I could write them down. I don’t know if the right words were written down, I tried to remember them as they were coming, but I hope I can bring some healing to the tragedy.  So…..

 

The vulture thought for a time

Then he thought this must be a sign

The hawk has abandoned me and our plans

I must now bring havoc to the land

He waited and waited for the day

He flew to the top of the Mandalay Bay

He let his hate fly through the air

Who they hit, he didn’t care

In the lives he took he didn’t realize

That heroes were there to save lives

That love was still there even in the hate

For some, healing would be a long wait

The eagle and hawk stood together

These birds of different colored feathers

The eagle spoke first:

“Our land seems to be cursed,

From one tragedy to another tragedy

From one community to another community.”

“When times like these feel like the worst,

I implore us, everyone, all of us birds,

When it is so hard to see past our grief

When it is so hard….so hard to see,”

His voice cracked as he spoke

“We must never, never give up hope!”

“This tragedy truly breaks my heart,

But I know a light will shine from the dark.”

“Let us remember the ones that have been lost,

A senseless tragedy that has a great cost.”

“But let us learn from this tragedy,

There is a power inside you and me.”

“We must continue to let our light shine

For love has been here since the start of time,”

“Love was here then and love is here now!”

“I will, we will show love and that’s our vow.”

“We will not hide, we will not be afraid!”

We will not sit quietly, tomorrow is a new day”

 

Then the hawk let out a deep sigh

A tear escaped his eye

“Dear hate, you held me captive for many years

And I let you because I had so many fears.”

“I feared that I was not worthy of love.”

“I believed in this world and not God above.”

“I was public enemy number one,

And I can’t change all the bad I have done.”

“But I changed my thinking and I changed my heart,

And that’s when I escaped the dark.”

“Hate, you will not win!”

“We have a greater love within.”

“Birds, we must continue to make a better tomorrow.”

“We cannot be overcome by our sorrow.”

“We will overcome, good will come from this tragedy.”

“Change starts with love, change starts with you and me!”

Then the hawk and eagle joined wings

Friends had been made out of enemies

We cannot undo what has been done

We must let love rule, we will overcome

We will not let racism and hate destroy our land

We will show compassion, be virtuous and let love be our stand

From the streets to the steeples

We will love God, we will love people

 

Dear Hate by Maren Morris – 

Why Not Me by Eric Church – 

Love Will Always Win by Travis Greene – 

Hope Is Marching On by Matt Redman – 

You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell-  

Drink A Beer by Luke Bryan – 

Find You There by Ellie Holcomb – 

Overcome by Jeremy Camp – 

Pray For The World be Deon Kipping- 

Healing by Blessid Union of Souls – 

Dear X, You Don’t Own Me by Disciple-  

Might To Save by many but I chose Laura Story –