America Prays
Sept. 15, 2001
Dear Lord,
We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll
open
a sleepy eye and think, "What a horrible dream."
But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream.
Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress.
People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are
sad.
There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor
who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a
classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige
was
a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years
old. (Who held her in those final moments?)
We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our
innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps
we should have known better. But we didn't.
And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you
for
it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can
do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and
now
we plead, "Do it again, Lord. Do it again."
Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the
same for us. Do it again, Lord.
Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children
from
the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua?
Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb?
You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took
them
away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You
took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle.
Because
of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it
again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need
apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw
here
last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence
slaughtered.
Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as
the
smoke eclipsed our morning, so the darkness fell on your Son.
Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity
was
pierced.
And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a
rock.
But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three
days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth
and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it
again, Lord.
Grant us a September Easter.
We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity.
Christians
are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with
Democrats.
Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings.
We thank you for these hours of unity.
And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought
to
bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however,
that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you
can do.
Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their
families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years
and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed
and
the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive
and
faith that we might believe.
And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years
you've
used her to heal a hurting world.
Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen.