A prayer by Betty Steward
October 12, 2001

Dear God,

My heart hurts. I'm not asking you to take away the hurt, just to help me bear it.

My heart is sore because of all the people who died in the attacks on America on September 11, the people in the buildings, those in the airplanes, the ones who tried to rescue the ones in the World Trade Center, and also the terrorists who caused it all. Also for the families and friends of those who died.

My heart hurts because America has lost its innocence. It hurts because I'm afraid we will try to use technology instead of wisdom to retaliate.

I'm afraid we won't have learned anything from all this.

I worry that we have gone soft and can no longer bear the work and sacrifices necessary to carry on.

My heart hurts because "their" values are not "our" values. We are literally worlds apart in what is important to us. And as a wise person once told me, "values" are not "truths." Also, I have no idea how to bridge the gap. Help me.

I also worry that we will demand that you - God - be on "our" side, and refuse to recognize that you are all-encompassing and God of all of us and not on any "side." Please help us to know that when we call on you it is to help us as persons to cope, not for you to take up arms against our enemy, and smite them as the Psalms demand.

My heart hurts because people in this country and elsewhere are saying that the disaster of September 11 is our own fault because we have turned away from you or suppressed others around the world. Help us to realize that you are much bigger than that, and that you do not keep minute scores on all of our failures. Help us to do better as we go along. We need you, along with all others who recognize you as God of all the world.

Keep us in your path, O God, and help us to live in love, not in hate and fear.