Praying with the Army

This Monday, I attended a change of command ceremony for the optometry division who's about to deploy. It was small, and rather unexciting,in a gymnasium-like room. None of that was surprising.

But during the ceremony there was a prayer, to God, to protect them, and a quote from the bible.

I felt uncomfortable.

I wondered how many people felt the same way, or if they've just gotten used to the Christianity in the army. It's not the first time I've experienced it.

One of the most alarming was during our Thanksgiving dinner for the clinic last fall, when our commander had us all old hands in a lengthy prayer to "Heavenly father."

What happened to separation of church and state?

Life is fragile

I am not a religious person, but I am spiritual, and I believe in the power of love and prayer. I am asking the universe to take care of my cousin-in-law Amy.

Amy, who is married to my cousin Chris, is my age (33) with two little kids, Alex and Lucy (they have appeared on my blog before here). She has to undergo brain surgery next week to remove a tumor that was just found this week.

I am asking you to offer up a little prayer for our Amy and her family this week, that she is taken care of and delivered safely home.