September
12, 2001
We
have watched pictures for years of other countries, other peoples,
suffering the effects of war: violence, horrible deaths, grieving,
displacement from homes, numbness of mind and spirit. Finally it
has happened here. This was not the first but by far it was the
worst. The uncertainty that permeates New York City, and many across
the country, about a possible "second wave" of attacks
eats away at the quality of life.
It
is a time, now, for great sadness at the needless waste and destruction
of precious lives. We know that peace is always God's will; we understand
perhaps a bit better now, why.
The
central issue for each of us as Christians is our strength of spirit—that
we might be empowered by God to continue to live in hope, in joy,
in trust and in peace. It
is our responsibility to strive against a spirit of vengeance within
our hearts. And just how do we do that, seeing the images we see
of these dastardly and barbaric attacks? We can do it with God's
help.
God
yearns for us to be "instruments of his Peace." God reaches
out to us with His Holy Spirit of Peace. And we can receive that
Spirit if we are open to it. I commend to you lots of prayer, and
lots of reading of the wisdom and inspiration of scripture—scripture
that has helped God's people deal with every kind of disaster and
crisis that has ever faced humanity. Try these:
- Psalm
23, 27, 42, 46, 121
- Lamentations
3:22-26, 31-33
- Romans
8:14-19, 34-35, 37-39
- Revelation
7:9-17
- John
14:1-6.
Keep
in mind that God's Truths are always true. These readings are as
up-to-the-minute as this morning's newspaper and far wiser, in their
comforting and strengthening power.
May
God strengthen us and guide us all in the days ahead.
© 2001 The Rev. William A. Kolb
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