At today's Senior Hall of Fame luncheon, the invocation - delivered by the Rt. Rev. Richard Trelease, once Episcopal Bishop here, struck me as odd.
I wish I had a transcript, but if memory servies, he didn't ask for God's blessing on our fighting men (as opposed to other fighting men). Nor did he use words like "right" and "Godly." And I did hear him ask for the Lord's blessing on our enemies, too.
Sounded open, generous.
When I complimented Richard later, he said it was designed to be "inclusive."
As an agnostic, I know beans about prayer. But I am very aware that in 2004 humans continue the age-old practiice of killing in the name of their deities. Osama bin Laden is the obvious example, but George W. Bush is absolutely certain that he is doing Christ's will in his Iraq policy, which has snuffed out the lives of about 800 Americlans and thousands of Iraqis thus far. And Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland haven't quite "laid down their swords and shields, down by the riverside" and some of the Jews and Muslims killing each other in Israel and the occupied territories are motivated by religion and...and...well, you get the idea.
Which explains why I perked up my ears at Dick Trelease's invocation.
PS How about a world-wide poll in which we ask believers, "Is it moral to kill for Jesus (or Allah or Jehovah)?