Saturday, February 17, 2007

The Lord Helps Those...

I don't know if anyone saw this onTV or in the papers earlier. I found this story inspiring:

We certainly have been changed in the aftermath of 9/11.

This song came from that inspiration -- rough draft for now:

The Lord Helps Those...

words and music by Tony Provencher

Once upon a Sunday morn
In Columbus Ohio
Bob and Carol rose from bed
To worship they would go.
Father Michael said his sermon;
The basket passed around;
And just before the bread was broke
Carol heard a rustling sound.

The woman sitting next to her
Had stolen Carol’s purse.
When Bob rose to defend his wife
The woman yelled a curse.
The man who had come with her,
He pulled out a gun.
He pistol-whipped poor Bob and said
These words when he was done:

The Lord helps those who help themselves.
We’ll help us to our fill.
The Lord helps those who help themselves --
This pistol says we will.
So hand over your wallets,
Your bags and purses too.
The Lord helps those who help themselves --
We’ll help ourselves to you.

But while the thieves were gathering
The bags and wallets too.
A fire stirred up in the hearts
Of people in the pews.
"Let’s roll," the voices rumbled,
The ghosts of Flight 93;"
Let’s roll; the Lord helps those who help..."
"Let’s roll! Get off your knees!"

The Lord helps those who help themselves --
‘Let’s Roll’ our battle cry --
The Lord helps those who help themselves --
Let’s roll; let’s do or die!
Those thieves cannot imagine
That we would ever dare...
The Lord helps those who help themselves --
Those thieves don’t stand a prayer!

And so they rolled into the thieves,
While others used their phones.
They rushed and threw the gunman down;
The woman ran alone.
They held the gunman down
As the police sirens wailed
The thieves were put in handcuffs then
And taken off to jail.

Bob went to the Hospital;
Got stitches, nothing worse.
Carol said a prayer of thanks
For getting back her purse.
The congregation gathered
For services delayed.
Then Father Michael broke the Bread
And grateful prayers were prayed.

The Lord helps those who help themselves --
You can pray your woes away --
The Lord helps those who help themselves --
But it’s not in the words you say --
Just hold on to your bootstraps
And give a tug or two --
The Lord helps those who help themselves --
It’s in the things you do.

Amen.

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