Article November 7, 2011 Issue

Prayer for my city

Christie Coddington

One day last fall while I was out driving around the city, I witnessed a shooting. I was quite shaken up and wondered: Why did this event happen? Why did the people involved feel they needed to take violent measures? What could I have done to help? And why did I even have to be there at the exact minute this event took place?

Then I decided it was important for me to pray and address these fears. I thought to myself, “I can only be a witness to God’s goodness, to what is true about mankind.” I declared that all of God’s children are loved, cared for, and protected, always. I began to say the Lord’s Prayer aloud, recognizing that God was right there in that moment when I felt scared and when those involved felt scared, too.

I needed to continue on with my day, but found it very challenging to shake the terrible image from my thought. I kept replaying it over and over in my head. I became concerned that this incident would change my outlook on city living, and that I would be more cautious and afraid to go about my normal activities in the city. I recognized that I needed to pray about this, not only for myself, but for everyone else who witnessed the event.

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