A prayer for the Sudan II: "God is great!"
/(part II, continued)
The president of the Sudan was, in a word, delayed—but not due to a routine schedule conflict. Unbeknownst to those of us assembling in Friendship Hall, a much different scenario was unfolding elsewhere in the city.
It so happened that on this day a convoy of military trucks had been tasked with transporting a large stash of “leftover” explosives and munitions from an ammo dump in the city to an undisclosed location out of town. They were old, out of date, no longer needed, and thus were to be disposed of. It turned out to be a good idea - sabotaged, as it were, by seemingly random circumstances, limited resources, and shaky execution.
There was insufficient gas, we were later told, to get the convoy clear of the city. They pulled into an army depot, apparently unsure about what to do next. The day was blisteringly hot, as we could all attest. It seems that the bumping, jarring realities of transporting the weaponry from their previous home, combined in some fashion with the oppressive weather, jittery handling, and freak circumstances, lead to a chain reaction of explosions that, in turn, paralyzed a sector of the city.
So the old explosives went off, and bridges that led to Friendship Hall were closed down, even as the president was making his way to speak to the nation about the way of peace. Some bombs had been intentionally planted and detonated in the city in prior weeks, so security forces and the population at large understandably assumed some sort of attack was underway.
Leftover munitions. Heat, friction, bumps in the road. Running on fumes, uncertainty, explosions. Fear, reactions, paralysis. Bridges shutting down. Empty seats.
They all go together.
The president was, thankfully, only a half hour late. Many other persons never made it to the gathering because of the road and bridge closings.
Yes, the culminating session of the Sudan’s First Annual Day of Prayer for Peace did indeed take place, following the president’s arrival. Warm greetings and solemn observances gave way to stirring speeches and heartfelt exhortations. A nationwide TV audience joined the thousand-odd participants, watching as their president warmly embraced the US congressman who had traveled so far to build friendships and pray together, and to greet them in surprisingly passable Arabic.
The president smiled and nodded while his American friend briefly described our common ground, rooted in the teachings of Jesus. Our Sudanese host then spoke articulately of his vision for the nation and his desire for peace.
The president’s American friend ceded the majority of his time to a couple of his friends, musicians who sang passages from the Holy Books revered by the world’s three monotheistic faiths.
“What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy , walk humbly with your God?”, asked the first one, in song.
The second guest hunched over his guitar, closed his eyes, and sang, unscripted, in Arabic … Qurannic verses beloved by Muslims as they gather to pray the world over. “God is great …”
God IS great, and He was there.
Coincidentally, the newspaper headlines took a surprising turn for the better in the days, weeks, and months immediately following the gathering. Observing the turn of events, one high-level American official called it “a miracle.”
Is it for real? Will praying, and building Jesus-centered bridges together, make a lasting difference? Insh’Allah.
Many more leftover, outdated explosives remain to be hauled away, around the world and in our own back yards. God willing, we will together learn how to dispose of them without running out of gas or triggering yet more unnecessary explosions.
