Afghanistan

As we were driving home from vacation on Monday afternoon, I turned the car radio to the news, hoping to hear an update about Hurricane Ida. The reporter's interview with the mayor of New Orleans was soon interrupted by the announcement from the Pentagon that the last military plane had left Afghanistan. After nearly twenty years, America's longest war is over. 

Photo by Mohammad Rahmani on Unsplash

As we reflect on the past 20 years our nation's military presence in Afghanistan, we hold a variety of feelings all at once. We give thanks for the brave members of our armed forces, many of them very young, who experienced great risk and hardship in service to our country. We mourn the loss of life in Afghanistan, of more than 2,400 US troops and tens of thousands of Afghans. We walk alongside and advocate for the more than 20,700 service members who were wounded and suffer from lingering effects still today. We lament the destruction that war brings, and pray fervently for peace among the nations. 

Though the military mission has been completed, diplomatic and humanitarian missions are ongoing. We pray for safety for those fleeing Afghanistan, and for those who remain there. We pray for kindness and hospitality to greet Afghan refugees as they settle into new homes. We pray for veterans and current service members who are struggling to process the events of the past few weeks. 

When the weight of grief and the enormity of all that is happening in the world is too much to bear, we cry out to the God who eases our burdens and walks alongside us through shadowy valleys and green pastures alike. 

The following prayer comes from the Prayer Book for the Armed Services:

For those who suffer from war - 

Merciful God, you grieve amid the pain, fear, and suffering of your children. Look with compassion on all who endure the miseries of war. Be mindful, too, of those who day and night face peril in defense of our nation. Guide them in their duties as they seek justice for those subjected to tyranny and liberty for those who are oppressed. Eternal Protector of the helpless, hear the cry of the distressed and grant speedy deliverance in a new day of peace and concord. Amen.

Bonus Resources: 

• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) is providing aid for Afghan refugees resettling in the US. Find out how to donate and help in other ways at their website.
• The Prayer Book for the Armed Services is an excellent resource from our ELCA publishing company. Consider purchasing one for friends or family members currently serving in the military.  
• Lutheran Disaster Response is providing assistance for those affected by Hurricane Ida. Learn more and make a donation here.