Pray for Peace and be a Peacemaker
By the Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok, Assoc./LSSC
E-pastor of Soul Food Ministry (soulfoodministry.org)
International Peace Day speaker, September 21, 2006

By combining peacemaking efforts with the power of prayer, we are an unstoppable force for good in the world. To put it another way, "If we talked to God as much as we talked on our cell phones, we'd change the world." (Attributed to the Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon)

The world urgently needs our persistent, prevailing prayers and efforts for peace locally and abroad. History has always belonged to the intercessors because prayer changes people and people change things. Today's International Peace Day (internationaldayofpeace.org), endorsed by the United Nations, represents global citizens from many countries joining in a common desire for "peace to prevail around the world and in every heart."

It was Eleanor Roosevelt who said, "It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it." By praying for and promoting peace as best we can, we engage in an honorable form of spiritual activism respected by all world religions. Prayer is universally recognized as a holy necessity and "not a last extremity." One anonymous writer put it this way: "To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees." William Booth encouraged people to "Pray as if everything depended on your prayers."

Individually and together, we represent enormous power as praying peace activists concerned for local, national and global needs. 'Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens,' insisted Margaret Meade, 'to change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that has.'

When I was an active duty Navy Chaplain in 1991, I served on a munitions ship (the USS Mauna Kea, AE 22). Our primary mission was to replenish warships with fresh bombs to maintain a fragile and uneasy peace in the Persian Gulf. I was often irresistibly drawn to the darkness of the cargo hold, loaded with pallets of bombs stacked as far as the eye could see. Enveloped in the solitude and palpable silence, I would lay hands on the bombs and pray for peace. In obscurity, I petitioned Heaven as best I could for peace to prevail. I prayed for my country, the sailors and families under my care, for the leaders of other nations and for enemies and the innocent victims of war.

Keenly aware of the potential power for death and destruction onboard, I realized prayer is more powerful than all the combined weapons of mass destruction in the world. I strove to follow Paul Bunyan's advice to "pray often," and heed the practical wisdom of Joseph Neesima to "advance on our knees," literally and metaphorically.

Rather than be powerless, these prayers empowered, energized and encouraged me to continue praying in isolation. Whenever possible, I taught my sailors to pray for peace. These radical prayers of holy boldness were not always popular, but critically needed to maintain a sense of humanity and compassion during times of hostilities and uneasy peace.

Praying for our enemies is the most difficult aspect of being a peacemaker. Humanely impossible, it is only by the grace of God and persistent effort that we dare pray for our enemies. These most difficult of prayers would be greatly missed if we chose prayerlessness rather than prayerfulness. Praying for enemies is powerful medicine for the soul. Rather than be embittered and consumed by hatred, change the world one hardened heart at a time by prayer.

Whatever deity of choice or religion you embrace, whichever name of God you worship, always pray for peace and strive to be a peacemaker to the best of your abilities. You will find yourselves better equipped and encouraged in your peace activism. Rather than feel powerless in the presence of bigotry and discrimination, violence and fear, terrorism and raw hatred, equip yourself by praying for friends and foes alike with as much divine compassion and strength you can muster.

If prayer is an unfamiliar activity, cultivate a daily habit even if only for 30 seconds to 2 minutes a day as you brush your teeth. This advice comes from Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa. He not only survived the terrible effects of apartheid, but also was instrumental in the ongoing healing of his country.

Devote your life to this noble pursuit of praying for peace and you will be blessed. Peace is the most beautiful word in every language and world religion. I close with two quotes, one from the apostle Paul and the other from Jesus. "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18). "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be children of God" (Matthew 5:9). Amen.

Prayers For Our Nation and For The World

"Almighty God, accept our prayers for all who hold authority in the nations of the world, that there may be justice and peace on the earth. Bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth." "O God of many names, Lover of all nations, We pray for peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our nations, in our world, the peace of your will, the peace of our need." Amen.

About the author: Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok earned her Doctor of Ministry degree at Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC and Masters of Divinity degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. She studied at the famous ecumenical Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland. Her ministry training includes four units of Clinical Pastoral Education. She facilitates retreats and labyrinth events, provides ecumenical and interfaith pulpit supply and writes spirituality materials for international Internet readers. You may email your comments to her at revsandyb@aol.com.