Evening Prayer and Reflection – 10 July 2021

We spend the day driving and then visiting the Andersonville National Historic Site which is the site of Camp Sumter, a Confederation Prison Camp for captured Union soldiers during the Civil War. It is also the site of a National Cemetery and the National Prisoner of War Museum.
To say that the visit was gut wrenching and overwhelming would be an understatement. The rolling grassland pictures below look nothing like the muddy, boggy, disease ridden place where over 13,000 Union Prisoners of War out of 45,000 died between February of 1864 and April of 1865… a fourteen month span!

Thomas Merton, in New Seeds of Contemplation, said the following about war and peace: When I pray for peace, I pray not only that the enemies of my own country may cease to want war, but above all that my country will cease to do the things that make war inevitable. (p. 121)
With the powerful impact of this day and place in mind, I lift up this Evening Prayer.
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a long and emotional day, Lord
To visit hallowed ground where so many suffered, died, and were buried
To consider the depths of despair felt by so many
To consider the horrors and the pain of warfare
To think of those who flippantly call for a second Civil war in this nation
Perhaps they need to consider the depravity of that thought
My heart is heavy, Lord
The work of nonviolence and peacemaking is difficult
This place has reinforced the importance of this work
Lord, help me to truly be an instrument of your peace
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
Inspiring
Thank you, Annie
I’m giving thanks that Thoma Merton continues to inspire you to write reflective pieces like this. Thanks.
Thank you, Shirley!