Whether or not you believe in God or some form of deity (or deities), now would be a very good time to get down on your knees and pray to all that you hold holy, even if that is your fancy new car.
Start praying for peace.
It has struck me that too many wild and weird world events are stirring and brewing around us.
Just when we’re told that life in Iraq is showing some signs of stabilizing and moving in the right direction, at least compared to what we have seen and heard for the past couple years or so, the Kurds and Turks decide to give their old enmity a shot in the arm and begin shooting at each other anew.
Would that this were all that is swirling around the planet. This, and Iraq, and Afghanistan would be bad enough. Yet there is more. So much more.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is idolizing and extolling Franklin D. Roosevelt, causing many to presume that he will strive to be president-for-life in that extra large landmass that was once part of the former Soviet Union. That, coupled with his recent dramatic dressing down of our President and Secretaries of State and Defense, and giving lip service to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, gives pause. So much pause that I should stop. If only I could.
How can we forget our dear delusional deviant, Mahmoud Ahmidineajad? Iran’s President is certainly putting the world through its paces. He could do anything. We know he will say anything. If it weren’t for the clerics changing the country’s name to highlight its commitment to Islam, I’d think Mahmoud wishes to bring back the glory days of the great Persian Empire and serves as its Emperor. Unfortunately, he’s not the last – or least -- of the world leaders for whom we should pray.
Any number of the “…stans,” the countries created when the Soviet Union collapsed, are fully capable of causing trouble in their region. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan. Some are more civilized and sensible than others, but all deserve our attention and prayer. So, pray for presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev, Islam Karimov, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
There are still the enduring China-Tibet, India-Pakistan, China-Taiwan/Japan tensions. Indonesia and Sri Lanka (Tamil Tigers) are experiencing uncertainty within borders, too. And what about the emerging drug-exporting enterprise that is growing in Venezuela under the ever-scary watchful eye of Hugo Chavez? North and South Korea can’t be overlooked either.
Darfur pain continues unabated, and Africa, the so-called Dark Continent, is struggling with its political, social, and economic issues.
If there’s an area in the world without serious conflict, I don’t know it. I hear that even Tuxedo Penguins are quarrelling at unprecedented levels in Antarctica.
Prayer is designed to ask God to provide these people with the wisdom and decency they need to properly serve their populations – and the world. It’s not a matter of whether you agree with their politics. It’s a matter of calling for divine support to keep them from being too full of themselves and leading us all into oblivion.
In our country, the good ol’ U.S. of A., many people are so hateful toward George W. Bush that his utter failure is their cause célèbre and most fervent prayer. Such emotions are misdirected. He and all other leaders, of all stripes and philosophies, need divine guidance to protect their people from further pain, poverty, and potential wars.
Only God can deal with the magnitude of the problems we’re facing.
Don’t forget those knees. We’re going to need them.
++++
Fred W. Apelquist, III, M.Ed.
Approximately 600 words.
© October 2007
+++
YETMO: “You’re Entitled To My Opinion,” A Balanced Point of View
"To stimulate thought, debate, and introspection”