Loveless

I never had a reference point when people asked “Do you know where you were when President Kennedy was shot?” All I can remember is that Captain Kangaroo was not on as it should be and instead there were people dressed in black, standing in a long line. Where was I on September 11th? At work. The plane had already hit the first tower when we got a call to turn on our TVs, and then we weren’t far away from a TV after that. What stands out even more prominently than where I was on that day, was where the rest of my family was that day. My hubby was in Turkey visiting ancient sites, #1 son was deployed to Okinawa, and #2 son was living on a college campus. I didn’t know enough about Turkey at the time to realize that hubby was in a safe area, I just knew he was overseas without any guarantees of how, or when, he could get home. #2 Son called to check in. #1 Son called to say the Marines were on highest alert and preparing to board ships but he couldn’t tell their destination. After the quickly organized prayer service at church that evening I came home and started tearing down wall paper. It took about two years to finish the project in the boy’s bathroom but for those days it was a mindless activity that served a purpose.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, we can be creatures of mindless, senseless, careless, thoughtless acts. Take away our loveless actions and make them more: more caring, more thoughtful, and more giving. Fill us with compassion and respect for each other and honor the command to love our neighbors. We pray that you may bring balance to an off kilter world, made unstable by hapless acts from those who are helpless and powerless to sin and indulgence. Let us be drawn closer to you, to increase our strength and resolve so that we may become powerful and stand firm in our commitment to following Christ by serving others. Where harmful acts are no longer possible and peaceful acts are our habit. We pray for continued healing for those who suffered loss and we also pray for healing for those who find the divide of politics and doctrines too wide to see each other as a child of God. Let us be creatures of love-filled acts. Amen.