{"id":8469,"date":"2019-11-15T22:28:35","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T21:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=8469"},"modified":"2019-11-16T13:15:29","modified_gmt":"2019-11-16T12:15:29","slug":"too-beautiful-for-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/11\/15\/too-beautiful-for-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Too beautiful for war"},"content":{"rendered":"

 
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two prayers by Simon Bailey<\/strong> – written from a teenage perspective – expressing distress at the ongoing threat of nuclear war and violence and recognising the comfort that comes when we bring our fears to God who is “warm enough to take all [our] shivers away”.<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

#1<\/h3>\n

They say we can destroy the world
\ntwenty times over with nuclear bombs –
\nit’s probably more by now.
\nI see those pictures of the mushroom cloud
\nand I shiver –
\nthe world is too beautiful for that,
\npeople are too beautiful.
\nFather, it’s so wrong – and so frightening.<\/p>\n

Jesus told us to love our enemies –
\nI don’t think you can love your enemies with a bomb.
\nIt’s such a mess but somehow, somewhere
\nwe have to turn round and really say:
\n‘We want to live in peace together.’<\/p>\n

So send your Spirit to remind our leaders
\nhow beautiful things are,
\nhow beautiful their ‘enemies’ are,
\nto remind them to keep telling themselves:
\n‘We want to live in peace together.’<\/p>\n

 
\nby Simon Bailey<\/strong>
\nfrom The Book of a Thousand Prayers<\/a><\/em> by Angela Ashwin, #1001
\n <\/p>\n\n

#2<\/h3>\n

There were wars and riots on the news tonight,
\nFather, and now I’m very frightened –
\nbombs and killings and rows don’t seem too bad
\nin the daylight, but it’s dark now …
\nI don’t let other people know I’m frightened
\nof the dark but I am.
\nI’m scared of lots of things –
\nevil spirits and heights, being beaten up,
\nof pain and dying,
\nand even looking silly in front of my friends.
\nNow I’m scared of going to sleep in case I dream.<\/p>\n

Be near me,
\nBe a warm presence round me
\nand a light inside me.<\/p>\n

You know what it’s like to be very scared,
\nso you can help me now.
\nI’m nearly shivering with fright,
\nso help me to know you are in charge,
\nyou know what darkness is,
\nyou are brighter than the darkness
\nand warm enough to take all my shivers away.<\/p>\n

 
\nby Simon Bailey<\/strong> from Still with God<\/em>, p. 36
\nreferenced in How to Pray: Alone, with Others, at Any Time, in Any Place<\/a><\/em> by Steven Cottrell
\n <\/p>\n\n

Church of Scotland at prayer<\/h3>\n

Together we pray<\/strong>
\nEach week, from late September until late November, new prayers written by people from across the Church of Scotland and our partners will be shared on the Church of Scotland<\/a> website. <\/p>\n

This week’s prayer for radical change<\/a>, written by Doug Gay
\n <\/p>\n\n

From the blog<\/strong>
\nConsolation joy<\/a>
\nWild hope #1<\/a>
\nTheme: Do not lose heart<\/a> [prayer sheet<\/span>]
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Two prayers by Simon Bailey – written from a teenage perspective – expressing distress at the ongoing threat of nuclear war and violence and recognising the comfort that comes when we bring our fears to God who is “warm enough to take all [our] shivers away”.   #1 They say we can destroy … Continue reading “Too beautiful for war”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,24],"tags":[175],"class_list":["post-8469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prayer","category-tip","tag-war"],"yoast_head":"\nToo beautiful for war - 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We ask you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sun_kissed_clouds_houten.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sun_kissed_clouds_houten.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sun_kissed_clouds_houten.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sun_kissed_clouds_houten.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9342,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2020\/03\/28\/turn-to-the-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":8469,"position":2},"title":"Turn to the light","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Rotterdam at twilight \u00a0(Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 Here is a prayer inspired by Phos Hilaron \u2014 the earliest Christian hymn (outside of the Bible), dating from the 3rd or 4th century. Known as the \u201cLamp-lighting hymn,\u201d it was traditionally sung as the evening lamps were lit. \u00a0 May this prayer,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/setting_sun.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/setting_sun.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/setting_sun.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/setting_sun.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15624,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2024\/09\/09\/deep-and-unfathomable\/","url_meta":{"origin":8469,"position":3},"title":"Deep and unfathomable","author":"Irene Bom","date":"September 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Sunset on Lake Balaton outside Budapest Prayer of intercession O Lord our God, You are Love, living and dancing through creation; You are Light, challenging and purifying our hearts; You are Peace, deep and unfathomable, working through and beyond all pain and conflict. We praise you for the gift of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer of intercession"","block_context":{"text":"prayer of intercession","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer-of-intercession\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/sunset_lake_balaton.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/sunset_lake_balaton.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/sunset_lake_balaton.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/sunset_lake_balaton.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8422,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/11\/05\/imagine-no-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":8469,"position":4},"title":"imagine … no war …","author":"Irene Bom","date":"November 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 (Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 A prayer We dare to imagine a world \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0where hunger has no chance to show its face. We dare to dream of a world \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0where war and terror are afraid to leave their mark. We long to believe in a world of hope unchained \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/wooden_statue_charred2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/wooden_statue_charred2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/wooden_statue_charred2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/wooden_statue_charred2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2234,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/08\/24\/theme-spurred-on-by-prayer\/","url_meta":{"origin":8469,"position":5},"title":"Theme: Spurred on by prayer","author":"Irene Bom","date":"August 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"PDF version \u00a0 This prayer sheet is a response to these words by Christian theologian and author, Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner): \"Go where your best prayers take you.\" The words appear in Buechner's book, Telling Secrets - A Memoir, about his encounters with God's presence in both the scary and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer sheet"","block_context":{"text":"prayer sheet","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer-sheet\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Grow through helping others (poster)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/pentecost_2017_gift_5_grow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/pentecost_2017_gift_5_grow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/pentecost_2017_gift_5_grow.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/pentecost_2017_gift_5_grow.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/tip\/\" rel=\"category tag\">tip<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"    Two prayers by Simon Bailey – written from a teenage perspective – expressing distress at the ongoing threat of nuclear war and violence and recognising the comfort that comes when we bring our fears to God who is “warm enough to take all [our] shivers away”.   #1 They say we can destroy…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8469\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}