A PRAYER FOR THOSE ENGAGED IN WAR

FROM FLETCHER TINK. Fletcher Tink is a teacher, writer, minister in my holiness tradition. He penned the following prayer, "A Prayer for Those Engaged in War," on March 25, 2003. Remember what was happening then?

Oh, Father God, we, as fallen humans in a corrupt world, confess our collective failure to find peace. In our desperateness, we seek your divine help. . .

For the spirit of confusion that enshrouds us, give us your mind.

For the spirit of fear and panic, temper us with perspective and peace.

For our lies and euphemisms, nurture in us childlike honesty and transparent language.

For our reckless might, extend to us your divine power.

For our callous and cold calculations, renew in us warm and sensitive hearts.

For false hopes and illusions, reshape us with a realism of the hope found only in you.

For our guilt and shame that harbors blood on our hands, give us pardon and cleansing.

For our arrogance, wet our eyes, bend our knees in dependency on you.

For rabid enthusiasm, caution us with measured confidence born only in your coming Kingdom.

For ugly rhetoric and dogmatism, frame our mouths into prayers.

For the pain of combat, the agony of injury, extend your hand of healing.

For excruciating loss and violent death, embrace us with your arms of comfort.

For the tragedy and horror of war, offer us a peace beyond understanding that will unite that which has been fractured, into your transforming, ennobling and liberating self.

For these gifts, unworthy as we are, we plead,

Amen.