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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
November 2002 |
Mini Homily:
Praying for peace
By Kent Millard
Recently, I have been praying fervently for peace. I have been praying that God will help our leaders and the leaders of other nations of the world to find a way to keep our world safe from terrorism and to avoid war which will take the lives of perhaps hundreds of people. I have fasted for peace. I have used guided imagery and meditation to seek peace. I long for us to learn to live in peace and harmony with each other on planet earth.
My prayer is that we will do everything possible to avoid war. I began my ministry as a pastor during the Vietnam War, and I had to conduct funeral services for young men who were killed in that conflict. I wept at every funeral and kept asking myself, "Have we done everything we can to work out these conflicts without sacrificing the lives of our youth?" The lives of the young who are killed in war are so precious to God and their families, I want to be sure we have done everything we can to seek peace before we take the plunge into war which will undoubtedly cause death and heartache in the homes of thousands of people.
During the Vietnam war I served in Massachusetts and there was a retired Naval officer in our congregation. They had two sons. One son protested the war and fled to Canada to avoid being drafted to serve in the military. The other son was drafted, trained and sent into battle and was killed. His brother was not able to return for his funeral and his parents wept deeply for both their sons. They felt they lost both of them to the war. When I remember their pain, I want our leaders to think long and hard and to do everything possible to work out our conflicts with Iraq before we begin to bring home young men and women for burial.
Meanwhile, I pray and fast for peace. Will you join me?
Last updated on 01/14/2004The Rev. Kent Millard is pastor of Indianapolis St. Luke's UMC.