Most of the peaceniks in the world are protesting the impending war in Iraq. They send cute little e-mail chains designed to have all people who receive them pray to stop the evil President George W. Bush and his hypocritical United States of America. Someone finally decided to respond.

A Prayer For War.

Dear God,

As the hour grows near when evil must once again be extinguished from the face of the world you have bestowed upon us, we pray:

For strength in our soldiers, who simply live, love, serve, fight, and sometimes die in service of the country they so dearly love. May they find the courage and will to overcome any obstacle and endure and hardship to achieve a final, real, and lasting victory.

For strength in our leaders, who daily face recriminations, venomous verbal assaults at the hands of their once friends, and ridicule here at home. May they find the wisdom to hold to the proper and right course in these dangerous times when friend and enemy are harder to determine.

For strength in our nation, who has still not recovered from a horrible atrocity against it on September-11-2001. May we find the path back to the light of your love and feel your comfort and mercy as we prepare to bear the hard news of violence, the bitterness of early death.

And finally, Oh Lord, we ask that when this war is over, you give all of forgiveness- for all those who stood against us simply because of who we are and not what was right, for our enemies who fought against us because of their evil, and for ourselves- for ever having let the situation get this far.

God, into your infinite wisdom and divine power we cast our prayers. Hear them, lift them up to you, and dispense to us all as you see fit.

Amen.