'i was beautiful once. it cost me my life.'

A former sex slave speaks out in this haunting article: 'Sex Slave: Everyday We Were Raped.'  As I read this story and thought about the millions of orphaned and vulnerable, displaced and abused people on our planet, I was reminded of a song by U2 called Miss Sarajevo.  It is, in a way, a desperate prayer for purity and peace to return to our land.  You can see a video of U2 and Luciano Pavarotti performing this song together here.  And here are the lyrics:

Is there a time for keeping a distance
A time to turn your eyes away
Is there a time for keeping your head down
For getting on with your day

Is there a time for kohl and lipstick
A time for cutting hair
Is there a time for high street shopping
To find the right dress to wear

Here she comes
Heads turn around
Here she comes
To take her crown

Is there a time to walk for cover
A time for kiss and tell
Is there a time for different colors
Different names you find it hard to spell

Is there a time for first communion
A time for east 17
Is there a time to turn the mecca
Is there a time to be a beauty queen

Here she comes
Beauty plays the crown
Here she comes
Surreal in her crown

[Pavarotti]
Dici che il fiume
trova la via al mare
E come il fiume
giungerai a me
Oltre i confini
e le terre assetate
Dici che come fiume
come fiume
L'amore giunger
L'amore
E non so pi pregare
E nell'amore non so pi sperare
E quell'amore non so pi aspettare

[English translation:]

You say that the river
finds the way to the sea
And as the river
you'll come to me
Beyond the borders
and the thirsty lands
You say that as river
As river
Love will come
Love
And I cannot pray anymore
And I cannot hope in love anymore
And I cannot wait for love anymore

[Bono]
Is there a time for tying ribbons
A time for Christmas trees
Is there a time for laying tables
When the night is set to freeze

These phrases, 'And I cannot pray anymore, And I cannot hope in love anymore, And I cannot wait for love anymore,' are the desperate cries of people who feel alone.  Let's stand with them in prayer and solidarity.  One simple and accessible way for you to stand with victims of poverty and HIV/AIDS is by joining 5for50.