Hope in a Dark Time

photo by Thomas Cizanskas / flikr

In this strange time when nobody knows about the future— i looked up the number of people affected in England during the Second World War. We know that bombs fell on England by the Germans for over 70 consecutive days. What most of us forget is that:

2 million homes were destroyed during that war.

2 1/4 million people were made homeless.

45,000 civilians lost their lives, including 8000 children.

These days I keep remembering a story that Frederick Buechner told toward the end of those war days. He said that in many of those craters gashed out by bombs, the bombs unearthed seeds of flowers that had been buried some for over a century. Flowers of all kinds began to sprout up and bloom over those bombed-out places. Botanists discovered there were over 150 different variety of flower seeds unearthed by those bombs. 

We now know the people of England not only survived but rebuilt their country. Visiting today we can scarcely see scars of those terrible days.We do not know how long our pandemic will last but I remember during these day of death and suffering and hospitalizations in England the flowers that covered many off those bombed-out places.

The history of the world tells the story of plagues, epidemics, black death and so many other horrors. So we must not lose heart. Let us remember the flowers that bloomed in those gashes made by bombs of the enemy. If the scarred landscape has recovered from the war’s violence, can a country, or a person, heal in the same way?

 Christian Prayer for the Nation

God of ages,

in your sight nations rise and fall, 

and pass through times of peril.

Now when our land is troubled,

be near to judge and save.

 May leaders be led by your wisdom; 

may they search your will and see it clearly. 

If we have turned from your way,

help us to reverse our ways and repent.

Give us your light and your truth to guide us;

through Jesus Christ, 

who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen

—Presbyterian Church, USA

photo by Bill Barber / flikr

--Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com