"Look up at the sky...

give thanks for your life!"

It was a young Ukrainian woman who spoke,
from the deranged chaos
of her invaded neighborhood,
from the jagged rubble of her shattered heart.

With a lover's passion
she spoke to anyone, anywhere
who might see her face
or hear her voice.

To me, it sounded like God's voice.

To me, her face was God's face,

beautiful and strong,

yearning and sure and urgent,

as if this might
be her one last
chance to tell us.

"Look up at the sky...

Give thanks for your life!"

I saw her.

I heard her.

I believe her.