Article March 1, 2010 Issue

WHAT PRAYER CAN DO FOR HAITI

ETHEL BAKER

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

"HAITI HAS moved to the centre of the world's thoughts and the world's compassion," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said (The Scotsman, January 14). Edwidge Danticat, an award-winning Haitian-American author, said, "Life is already so fragile in Haiti, and to have this [earthquake] on such a massive scale, it's unimaginable how the country will be able to recover from this" (Buffalo News, January 14). And Dr. Louis-Gerard Gilles, a former Haitian senator, said, as he helped survivors, "Haiti needs to pray. We all need to pray together" (The Daily Press, January 13).

At such a time, those outside Haiti may well feel helpess and ask, What is the point of praying? How can it do any good? How can it help Haiti right now?

Prayer reminds us that God's comfort and help are already present, even as rescue workers help mount the enormous relief effort. Prayer for the safety of the rescuers, and for intelligence in planning and executing their tasks, can support their efforts.

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