My son Tyson pointed me to this laugher: Pat Robertson: Pray for justices to retire. Here’s the full letter on his web site.
It reminds me of my Catholic seminary days long ago when we half-jokingly prayed for a particular pope to be “called to an early reward.”
But as we laughed about this over a beer on Thursday evening, I told him I didn’t think it was really all that different than when mainstream religious leaders pray for peace, like most did before the Iraq war. It’s clearly socially acceptable. What exactly is it you’re asking God to do when you say prayers for peace? Flip a few switches so that the leaders involved don’t take military action? Why isn’t that just as goofy as asking God to, as The Daily Show lampooned on Thursday night, speed up Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s colorectal cancer?
And then this sad story: Sailor killed in helicopter crash in Italy
“The proud, anxious father — news and sports producer for the Kansas City Star’s Web site — had shared his thoughts, emotions, memories and fears for his son in columns and journals posted on the site. Sam’s mother… wrote journals, too, including one posted on March 8, shortly after the Navy helicopter crewman arrived in the Persian Gulf. “I dream about my son, Sam,” his mother wrote. “He’s a toddler with a wiggle in his walk, pretty blond curls and a smile that lights up his whole face, dimples and all. He’s full of curiosity, laughter, stubbornness and innocence. “Then I wake up with a sick feeling in my heart and a prayer on my lips: Please, God, keep him safe. Keep all of them safe.”
And: A father prays for Navy son’s safe return “In the meantime, won’t you join us — the families, loved ones and friends of U.S. service people — in praying for their safe return?”
Yes, as my wife pointed out to me, it’s a natural urge to pray this way, especially when it involves the safety of one’s kids. But it’s mistaken. And in the long run, no matter whether these prayers are “answered” or not, it undermines a spiritual perspective about how God operates.