When soldiers go on missions, chaplains are expected to pray. The prayer I pray with men and women going “over the wire” has struck a strange cord with me. I pray, “…and Lord if we must engage the enemy… we pray for clear target, a quick response, deadly aim, and that your will be done.” Let’s just say they don’t teach this one in seminary. It has been birthed by late nights with grieving soldiers, sleepless nights when I have been one of them, and the eternal hope that we have seen the last of the tragedy.
I have concluded this prayer is profoundly Christian and that I should have started with this prayer many years ago. God has marched a myriad of people through my life in the past twenty years with one style of broken heart or another. Some have come from self inflicted injury, others because the mortar rounds have fallen like rain. All of them attacked. Regardless of their reason for coming to visit the chaplain/pastor they hold a number of things in common.
A clear target, the world seldom offers. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the shear volume of problems. Few people bow to trouble when it comes in a single file line. However, troubles come in groups of three, as the old saying goes. It’s been my experience they come in groups of fives, tens, fifteens and twenties. Overcome by the shear volume it’s hard to isolate a target. Too often we are overrun.
Quick Response? Yeah, right! More like the numbed response of a boiling lobster. Deadly aim? You gotta be kidding! By the way, where did I put my gun? Most of us march through life beaten down by the host of problems and we do not find the strength and courage to respond quickly or do battle.
So, long after this war is over I am going to continue to pray for “a clear target, quick responses, a deadly aim, and that the Lord’s will be done.” It’s a Christian prayer. When tragedy afflicts, depression numbs, people persecute and troubles rain down the psalmist prays, “Let your hand be ready to help me..” That worked for him, “a clear shot, quick responses and a deadly aim works for me.” Don’t forget, “cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
Well said Pastor Corey. Keep up the good work. We miss you back in New London, but we can all be so thankful to God for having been blessed with you and all the other U.S. troops serving us around the world.
Posted by: Jeffrey Johnson | November 02, 2006 at 03:10 PM
Very well put, I really enjoyed reading this posting. I'm going to keep that thought at work with me for that extra motivation.
Posted by: Anthony | November 03, 2006 at 05:41 PM
Thank you, Pastor CB. These are words to live by, definitely. God bless your men whom you are praying for as well as your family and you.
Posted by: Rosemary | November 03, 2006 at 11:10 PM
Hello Pastor Corey, I am thankful you are there for our military. If I can be of any help through prayer or the like, I volunteer. I cover our military with Psalm 91 each and every day and night. God bless and help you in Jesus' name. amen
My blog spot is http://dufresnedesign@blogspot.com
Posted by: Judee Dufresne | November 16, 2006 at 01:55 PM
correction on my blogspot it is http://dufresnedesign.blogspot.com
Posted by: Judee Dufresne | November 16, 2006 at 02:00 PM
Corey, I don't know if you remember me. I was one of the chaplain candidates from Bethel Sem. I have been stationed at Fort Riley, KS for the last year. We are on orders to Iraq to replace the 34th ID. Do you by any chance know who is leaving around March? Please email me. God bless, I can tell you are doing great work for God.
Blessings, Troy
Posted by: Troy Parson | November 16, 2006 at 09:28 PM
During the ordination liturgy in my church, when the candidate is asked if s/he is ready, it's not just a yes. I agree with your reflection that who knows if they are ready, and ready for what. So, the answer during ordination is "I am, With God's Help."
Posted by: Chaplain Virginia Carreiro | November 18, 2006 at 02:04 PM