The scene is horrific. 20,000 people packed into an airport— angry, frightened, desperate people, all with the same cry: “Get me out of here!”. Children crying because they can’t find their mothers. Families pushed apart by the crowds, unable to find each other. “Will we ever find each other in these crowds? What if we end up on different planes taking us to different countries? What if we never see each other again?”. People getting on whatever plane taxis up next, having no idea of which country will be their final destination. Wherever it goes, that’s their fate. “Kids, just get on any plane; wherever it takes you, it’s got to be better than here. If we get separated and if we never see you again, we pray you’ll have a good life. If you end up together, take good care of each other. Wherever you end up, behave yourselves, remember everything we’ve taught you, remember to say your prayers, and don’t forget us”. Stampedes inside the airport. Stampedes outside at the gate. People being trampled by the crowds, some trampled to death. Plane after plane takes off, like an old black and white World War II movie, but the people keeping flooding into the airport, coming in faster than the planes can carry them out. “What if we miss the last plane? What if we are stuck here? What will happen to us?” 20,000 human beings, all of whom had plans for tomorrow, now lost and confused, as sheep without a shepherd, all hope of a better life tomorrow quickly fading with every airplane that takes off, leaving them behind.
Tragedy unfolds in Kabul, and the world feels helpless. What can we do? What can we say? The people in the airport feel helpless, as the watching world feels helpless. There is one thing we can do. We can pray. Lord, we pray for the masses of people who are inside Kabul airport, and for those who are waiting outside at the gate, trying to get in, and for those trying to make it into Kabul from the surrounding areas, and for those who want to make their way to the airport but have no means of getting there. You are there with them. You walk among them. You feel their pain. We pray that a sense of your peace would fill that airport. You who made order out of chaos when you created the world, come into Kabul airport and turn chaos into peace. We pray that a calm awareness of your presence would fill the atmosphere of that airport. Help the people to know that you love them. Help them to know that you know their fear and their heartbreak. Help them to know that you feel their pain. Help them to know that you care. We ask you to reunite family members who are looking for each other. Help the crying mothers and crying children to find each other. Guide them onto the right airplane that will take them to the right destination where they will find compassionate people who will care for them. Make it possible that there will be enough planes so that every last person who wants to leave will be able to do so. Still the stampedes. Calm the crowds. Give hope to every hopeless heart that tomorrow will be better than today. Lord, we pray for those who are unable to leave. We pray especially for the women and children. May the new regime not treat them harshly. May they be treated with dignity and respect. May they be able to live their lives without fear of oppression. Give them dignity and strength and courage. Help them to know that many around the world are standing with them. Lord, we pray for the persecuted Christians in Afghanistan. Give them wisdom, strength, discernment, courage, and a deep awareness of your presence. Help their light not to be snuffed out. May their light shine brighter as the day draws darker. Send them helpers and protectors who will speak up for them when they cannot speak up for themselves. Keep them safe. Encourage them when they are weary. Preserve their lives. Lord, we pray for those of us who are on the outside looking in. We pray for ourselves, the watching world. Help us to not feel powerless. Remind us of the power of prayer, and of prayerful action. Help us to be both compassionate and effective. Show us how to pray and what to do. Make all the wrong things right, and use us as tools in your hands. In the words of Francis of Assisi, make us instruments of your peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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