69-AND COUNTING

I am struck by today's figures that 69 of our troops have died in Iraq in the month of October, and we're only half-way through the month. Among those were Montgomery's own Brad Payne, and Prattville's Steven Bicknell. Both of these young men left behind two very young widows, and Pvt. Bicknell's young wife is five months pregnant. How many more?

I support our military and I pray for peace. But, another 10 years? Hello! Does Vietnam ring a bell? How can we save a nation when its very foundation is being destroyed by its own people? And I wonder: how would we feel if we were in the middle of a civil war and another power came over to try to get us on track? Would we be grateful for the help? No doubt, many would, but I suspect most would react as they did during the Civil Rights Era: there would be resentment for "outsiders."

This war has divided this nation as nothing has since Vietnam. History has proven that those who protested for peace then were right about a lot of things. Protesting doesn't; mean you are un-American or that you don't support the troops.

I just wish we could find a way in this world to fight as hard for peace as we do for war. Mattie Stepanak, who died before his 14th birthday, wrote a beautiful poem, entitled "Our World." This child, ravaged by a neuromuscular disease, showed more wisdom in his young years than many adults. I might add that this was written after 9/11 when Mattie was only 11.

FOR OUR WORLD
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 12, 2001
© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek
Used with permission from Hope Through Heartsongs, Hyperion, 2002