Article November 17, 1997 Issue

Prayer conquers the threat of communal riots

R. David Robert

One day when I was in my office in Hyderabad, India, my son told me over the telephone that some troublemakers had entered our colony and terrorized the residents with knives and daggers just near our house. When people gathered and tried to oppose them, the troublemakers ran away. But on their way, two of them stabbed a resident to death before escaping into the thick grass in fields behind our colony. I was shocked to hear this, and returned home in a hurry.

This event left a fearful impact on us. Reports of similar incidents in other localities caused more anxiety. In response to what were identified as communal riots, a curfew was declared in the part of Hyderabad called the old city. The members of our family prayed very earnestly to know that God, divine Love, who is ever present, is our safety. We did our best to recognize that God, who is our Father, is our Life. This Life can never be lost or taken away.

Christ Jesus demonstrated the healing power of divine Love through the strength of his forgiveness and his brotherly love. This inspired us. He never entertained fear. Even murder could not end his life and love. We prayed to realize that we, too, could follow Christ in our humble way.

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