O God,
no harsher word
and none more fearful
than being lost,
where hope vanishes
and love dribbles away,
where rainbows die
and laughter is unknown.
Lead us into this valley,
O Lord, to feel
perdition’s cold fingers.
Abandon us not
in that dark place,
but bring us out
to where the sun
shines without
a shadow of cloud.
Amen.