With Hope

Rev. Judith Cooke

My ninth-grade math teacher talked to the class one day about war. I’m not sure how the subject came up, but it was a powerful conversation that has stayed with me. He said that he had registered as a conscientious objector because he believed that killing anyone for any reason was immoral. But, after he studied World War Two his mind changed. He told us that sometimes it the only ethical thing to do was to fight against evil.

The crisis in Ukraine brought to my mind that conversation. There are times when fighting back is the right things to do. As much as I am heartbroken and outraged by the attack on Ukraine, I am also inspired by the countless civilians who are fighting to protect their nation and one another. I am also moved by the tremendous numbers of Russians who are protesting the war, despite the threat of six years of imprisonment.

In times like these when solutions are hard to find, we rely on prayer. We pray for guidance, for healing, for peace, for hope.