Author Archives: Michael Summers
Prayer in the Shadow of the Holocaust
Reading Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner awakened memories of my time in Afghanistan. I read a history of Afghanistan while I was deployed there that quoted a British Army officer who visited Kabul. He described it as a garden city … Continue reading
Praying when Doors Close
What do we pray when our spirits are crushed, when circumstances force us to change direction and formulate new plans? Five years ago on January 21st, my day began with a phone call that informed me that my older son … Continue reading
A Prayer on New Year’s Day 2020
New Year’s Day 2020 is a time for celebration, reflection, and prayer. The change of calendar empowers many to revive imagination and renew hopes dashed by disappointment. While people pack into places like Times Square in New York City and … Continue reading
Prayer of a Veteran
A military veteran prays in Psalm 144. To be sure, this veteran/author may be the king (Verses 2 and 10 suggest at the least a petition on behalf of the king), but he still has trained for war and has … Continue reading
Prayer for the Abused
In Luke 4, Jesus reads in Nazareth’s synagogue from what we call chapter 61 of Isaiah. He affirms that the reading reveals his mission, that his presence and his ministry fulfills the words of the prophet. Jesus says, “The … Continue reading
When Prayer Is Ritual
Prayer sometimes is ritual. When churches pray the model prayer of Matthew 6 (also know as The Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father) as a congregation, or recite together “Hear our prayer” as responses to pre-determined prayers during a time … Continue reading
A Prayer for Courage on an Anniversary of Evil
A prayer I offered in 2012 front of an assembly from several nations in Kabul for Patriot Day (September 11): O God, Creator of all, Sustainer of life, our Refuge from disaster, we commemorate today an event that awakened a … Continue reading
