Prayer, Protest, And War

Dawn of a New Civil War Needs Prayer

As I sat in front of my food, a few of the people I was with engaged in saying a prayer while outdoors protesters screamed “abortion is healthcare”. I was perplexed but my mind churned. I wish I was a rude extrovert and retorted, “abortion is healthcare, and rape is fun”. Abortion was not just about the death of a child but the horrific exploitation of women. Yet, prayer is what occupied my mind.

In the United States, a new civil war is emerging and many are in denial of the signs. We are in a time of war (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3&version=NIV). I tend to be dismissive of the practice of prayer but I am painfully aware of the necessity of it to create a moral and calm focus. Prayer has the ability to center people, clear their thoughts, and address current problems thoughtfully. 

During the 1980s, anti-nuclear war protests were common, including in Bellevue, Nebraska, where a Catholic priest and his followers contested the nuclear strategy of mutually assured destruction (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_assured_destruction). At the time, the Air Force Base was the Strategic Air Command. Many Catholics would gather in prayer, holding rosaries and engaged in prayer. Many would be arrested every August in remembrance of the nuclear bombings of Japan which ended World War II.

President Reagan was thoughtful about the issue and wanted to reduce nuclear weapons and advocated for the Strategic Defense Initiative. The pains of the times show in two songs. Sting’s song “Russians”

and a historic explanation

and Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s many versions of the song Two Tribes

Reagan saw the weakness of his adversaries and eventually, the Soviet Union crumbled and new nations emerged and the Cold War was gone.

With the passage of the Soviet Union, Christians and conservatives would take a stronger effort against abortion. The Operation Rescue Movement was born and took place across the country (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Operation_Rescue). I was part of it. I remember the prayers, particularly the Catholics using rosaries who chose the prayers of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet). “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

Yet, with the COVID pandemic, I was stunned and shocked to see all sorts of places of worship shudder their doors. I was like: excuuuuse meee! Did you forget what the purpose of prayer is? Particularly for the faithful community? Did they forget the serenity prayer (“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference”
https://christiansdrugrehab.com/blog/the-history-of-the-serenity-prayer/)? Prayer peels away fear yet the clergy abandoned it. How was the power and motivation of prayer lost? 

The Catholics have the Rosary, but many Protestants fail to realize, their own Churches have prayer beads which they have forgotten (https://justdisciple.com/christian-prayer-beads/). Muslims have such beads too (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misbaha). Jewish people have similar items too (https://www.chicagojewishnews.com/what-are-jewish-prayer-beads-called/). Yes, even Hindus have them (https://japamalabeads.com/). Saying prayers, and counting them, forges a discipline all of its own.

But it does not end with prayer. There are hymns too. The Shakers wrote a beautiful hymn which embraced simple living and freedom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Gifts and

Years later, composer Aaron Copeland would place the hymn in a part of his Appalachian Springs composition

Can you hear all the joy in this music? I most certainly can. The hymn mentions dance.

But to many, this information is not immediately useful. You are probably trying to figure out how to break the ice with a contentious neighbor. This is where the prayer of St Francis is helpful. 

There are plenty of places to buy cards with the St. Francis prayer (https://www.etsy.com/listing/620344997/saint-francis-of-assisi-prayer-cards-st). You can give them to neighbors and add your name and phone number on the back. You will provoke a most necessary discussion. If you take on such efforts, I would be interested in the reactions you receive.