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 was
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 three
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 you 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 on that Tuesday, you saw there on that Friday. Innocence
slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the
ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our
towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity
was
pierced.
And by dusk, 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 into the brightest Sunday. Do it again,
Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
We thank you, dear Father, for
these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not.
Doctrinal fences have fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats.
Skin colors have been covered by the 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.
As written by Max Lucado for America Prays, a national prayer
vigil held Saturday, September 14, 2001.
Permission to copy not only
granted but encouraged. |
