THIS IS MY FRIEND

I would like to introduce you to my friend Stefan whom I have known ever since he was in his early teens.

Now Stefan is 22 years old and has spent nearly four years as a soldier fighting for his country. Right now he finds himself responsible for the lives of other men and in the midst of a war. His parents who love him dearly pray and cry out to God for his safe-keeping in the midst of great danger.

Each time we are tempted to take a self-righteous stance on war anywhere perhaps we could begin to think of individual men and women called to fight and affected by the fighting.

So often we pray as if we can change a war! What arrogance! We can pray, speaking to our loving God about the men and women involved, and affected, with great love in our hearts for each and every one of them. Without doubt we know that God created and loves every single person, and our prayers are far more effective when we have found His great heart of love and pray from that place. Is it not by our love for one another that the world will know who He is?

If you are uncertain about this, have a look at this photo of boy who has become a man, and look at the eyes that have seen things none of us would want to look at ... perhaps...just perhaps...then your heart will break as mine does...and you will begin to pray "Our Father Who is in heaven, Holy is Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven .... ".