Prayers for the People of Japan

My heart has been aching with sadness for the people of Japan as they experience a catastrophe of epic proportions that perhaps nobody thought would occur in their lifetime. I pray that God will provide strength and comfort for those whose loved ones have died or remain missing. I say a special prayer for the parents who lost their children in the devastation, for children who have become separated from their parents and for parents who now carry the burden of how to care for their children because they no longer have a place to call home, and parents that have a new fear for their children to radiation exposure.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I read a CNN report of a “shell-shocked” man in a Sendai shelter that fled the tsunami and was clinging to his 3-week-old infant saying, “I have to protect my children. I have to protect my children.” I’m sure the parents of young children amongst the 145,000 in shelters are feeling the same way. 

One thing I noticed during the brief time I lived in Japan was the tremendous respect of society as a whole towards the elderly. Unfortunately, America has something left to be desired in that area. However in the suburban (and probably rural) parts of Japan, it seemed to me that elderly people were everywhere. I wasn't sure if its because the environment was elderly-friendly, or because the elderly made the outside environment their place, as well. They were so cute, white-haired, most only about five-feet tall in height and often times hunched over (some severely perhaps due to Osteoporosis). I would see them working in the gardens, taking the bus, slowly climbing steps to the train platform, grocery shopping, or carrying grand-babies on their backs. I was impressed at how service workers, store clerks and school-kids spoke courteously towards them. 

A caption of one of the news reports this morning read something similar to, "Elderly make up large part of population in the affected rural areas". It saddens me to think these older Japanese have survived perhaps nearly 100 years, but are now facing the twilight of their lives with such confusion and despair. I pray for them, as well the sick whose care is in the hands of those whose services are being stretched thin. May God guide those in authority to act with haste and proper judgment in order to save and restore lives. And may all the dead be located and laid to rest in the peace and glory of God. 

St. Paul writes about suffering in his letter to the Romans: 

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope

that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;

and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. 

Romans 8:18-25