“Prayer” from Come From Away 

On Friday we saw ‘Come From Away’. It tells the incredible true story of 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in the small town of Gander, Canada, following 9/11, in 2001.

They arrived in Gander on the Tuesday; America declared a national moment of silence on the Friday. As townsfolk and passengers together share in the emotional reflection. Kevin remembers an old hymn from his childhood:

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me bring your love,
Where there is injury your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt true faith in you.

Others pick up the tune. This is a song I’m familiar with – the prayer of St Francis. It’s a prayer that I’ve prayed myself many times over the years: ‘Make me a channel of your peace’.

In the context of 9/11 praying for peace is entirely appropriate. Associating a familiar, well-loved song, with a familiar tragic event I feel quite emotional.

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Just when I’m settling into a familiar song, wondering how the storyline will develop, a rabbi starts praying for peace in his Jewish tradition. A Polish Jew, whose family knows about war and praying for peace, joins him.

Then a Muslim man – who’s been viewed with suspicion – joins them praying for peace… I realise that my Christian faith doesn’t give me a monopoly on prayers for peace.

O Master grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

I reflect on the world today, twenty-three years later, war in the Middle East, well publicised conflict in the name of religion, innocent people caught up in power struggles, unspeakable suffering… yet good people from all cultures and religions praying for peace.

I reflect again on that Newfoundland community in ‘Come from Away’ – lessons of unity in diversity, of scared strangers coming together, demonstrating empathy and compassion… and I pray again:

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope…