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 as 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 3 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 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
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 in to 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 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 ~
