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Chaplain Mark L. Allison on a day when all present looked to the Divine together
A Chaplain's Prayer
(The Managing Editor received this story and prayer from Chaplain Mark L. Allison, who is still serving in Afghanistan. The event that he is writing about occurred on Monday, September 5, 2004 at Jik-dalek, Afghanistan.)
The following prayer (as best I can recall it) was offered before an open-air assembly of approximately 50 local Afghani’s…all men and young boys, including the village elders, local militia leaders, the doctor and the mullah/school principal at the remote village of Jik-dalek located on the eastern side of Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan.
We landed at this remote village in two Army Chinook helicopters loaded with pallets of donated goods from Utah to distribute to the locals. Accompanying me were 38 American soldiers and a native born Afghani interpreter who has long lived in America but who has now returned to help his countrymen.
After the frenzy of the goods distribution and the announcement that the American Military “Mullah” was going to pray, most of them instantly chose to kneel upon the ground and clasped their hands together in an attitude of reverence and attention. Seated before them on three chairs was myself flanked by the mullah on my right and the village doctor on my left. In contrast to the preceding noise and commotion of the goods distribution, the public mood instantly changed to sacred and worshipful.
With the aid of the American hired interpreter Shah, I began to pray in a deliberate sentence-by-sentence manner to allow time for accurate word-by-word interpretation for the people. It was a very special experience to be among and pray for these severely impoverished and humble people who showed me, an American and a Christian Chaplain, the utmost respect. When I concluded, the mullah (Mohammed I’Yoob) prayed a short prayer in the native language of Dari followed by the doctor (Dr. Maroop) who requested he too be allowed to pray. Their prayers included expressions of gratitude to God for the Americans who had come to help them rebuild their country and establish peace. It is my belief incalculable good was accomplished that day through this experience of practical assistance and prayer.)
Heavenly Father, the God of all
people…of Afghans and Americans
Today as Muslims and Christians we pray
together and express thanks and ask
your blessings.
We pray for the people of this village…the men and women and all who live here…may
they be blessed.
We pray for the children…the
little boys and little girls; especially
those who are sick or injured
May they be comforted and healed.
We pray for the local leaders, the
elders, who have the responsibility
to govern, may they be blessed with
wisdom in their duties.
We pray for the mullah that he will
be blessed in his important responsibilities.
We pray for the doctor that he will
be blessed with “healing hands”and
skill to bring comfort and relief.
We pray for this land that it will
produce crops of vegetables and fruits.
We pray for the whole country of
Afghanistan and that the upcoming
elections will
provide for a future of freedom…and
that peace return to this land.
May these items provided today of
clothes, shoes and food be remembered
as gifts of friendship between Americans
and Afghans.
These blessings we ask together this
day in the name of the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, and of Mohammed and
Jesus.
Amen.
Chaplain Mark Allision, is a Board
Certified Chaplain and a clinical member
of the ACPE. He is the Chaplain, Director
of Spiritual Care at the University of
Utah Hospital and Medical School . Mark
was an active military chaplain from
1986-1995, was a Marine Corps Reservist
from 1995-1998 and currently serves the
Utah Army National Guard. He received
his MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
and was a hospice chaplain as well as
a bereavement and grief counselor. He
is ordained a High Priest in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
and is Commissioned as an officer and
chaplain by the Department of Defense
as a Military chaplain. Do you have thoughts about spiritual development
you’d like to share with your colleagues?
Send an e-mail of any length to info@PlainViews.org.
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