Hiroshima Day Prayer

This was written in 2012. Still Praying....

Today is the anniversary of the United States of America dropping the atom bomb on Hiroshima. The day America and maybe the whole world lost its innocence. It is impossible to list all that was lost that day. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives, many many more lost their futures because of the lingering radioactivity in their bodies, the city was destroyed completely, a whole country and probably the whole world lost the faith that humanity could be trusted and life would go on. And now, as the bombs stockpile, a whole new generation around the world have lost faith that they have a future at all.

I never quite believed that Jesus dying on the cross somehow made us right with God in a way that we weren’t before. I do believe he did teach us how to meet the worst; with trust, faith and open hearted surrender and forgiveness.

I never quite believed that the crucifixion of Jesus was God’s intention. However, his resurrection always deeply assured me that even when the very worst happens God can make good of it.

What happens when a child’s innocence is lost? If it is lost too early deep psychological damage inhibits natural and full development. Some never recover and get lost in a life of dysfunction and struggle. However, with much love, attention and guidance that child (or now adult) may heal and glean valuable lessons and meaning for the living of life in a broken world. They may even become healers in their own right, able to turn around and give a hand to those behind them on the road.

If innocence is lost later, at a time more appropriate to their own development, then it is likely, though never certain, that they are catapulted towards maturation. If they meet with betrayal or tragedy they must begin the lifelong process of grappling with the reality of the pain, suffering, cruelty, disappointment and fear that come with life. They meet a broken world and find a way to trust life and love in the midst of it.

Some never make that peace with what is. They may build walls both physical and energetic to defend against the evils of the world they now see as just too dangerous to engage with. Some turn their heads, dive deeply into denial and refuse to acknowledge the level of pain and suffering they and others around the world experience. Some know the danger is there but irrationally cling to the idea that daddy or someone will make it all better.

Most find they can live with it, accept the struggles and tragedies, glean what they can from them and enjoy the good when it comes.

There are many who meet it by devoting the life they have been given to making the world just a bit more safe, less cruel and more hopeful, making sure that the measure they bring to the world adds to the joy rather than the pain. The Buddha’s loss of innocence sent him on a long and arduous journey that led to enlightenment for himself and many others who follow him.

Tell me of the resurrection that comes from the dropping of the bomb. Tell me of the maturation that comes when the whole world has lost its innocence. The city of Hiroshima has been rebuilt beautifully. New generations have been born. People have gathered and tended to each others wounds, whether physical or of the unseen kind and love has grown because of it. Books have been written, songs sung and art created that begin to rebuild hope again.

There are those who will talk of finding peaceful uses for nuclear energy but this I can not accept as resurrection for it brings with it untold loss and suffering as well; in the tragedies that have happened and those that are yet to happen. Plus it leaves behind an irresponsible trail of radioactivity for the Earth and her inhabitants to contend with for eons into the future. No, I do not call that resurrection.

Where is the maturation that one would expect a child to grow into? Will we continue to build walls and more bombs in an urge to defend against the undefendable reality? To live in denial and go forward as though nothing has happened? Will we continue to turn our heads, trust those in power and believe what they tell us? Will we continue to give our power away to those who will take it with reassuring lies that we are the good guys and the bad is all outside, giving them permission to fight it on our behalf. Will we merely find an acceptable level of comfort and never look outside to see the dangers and suffering that circle our lives and this globe? Will we settle into the hope that Daddy/ God/ Science/intergalactic beings or whoever will make everything ok, at least for us and ours? Will our fear turn outwards into cruelty?

Will we as a people be willing to look full on at the degree of brokenness in this world and still find a way to trust life? There are a multitude of young people who look just enough to wonder if there is a future for them. It is hard to trust life when for the the first time in the history of the world we are confronted with the reality that life really may not go on. No matter what form of denial we indulge in, that reality seeps in through that cracks. If we do not face it full on, our responses, as any child’s would, become more and more irrational and dysfunctional and do nothing to help us move towards a viable future.

Maybe, just maybe, resurrection is still making its way. I still have hope that we, the people of Earth may take on the hard work of individuation. Will we seek a relationship to life that grapples with this broken world and still finds a way to love, to trust, and to serve? Will we realize that since we can not hide in innocence we better rise to the call to create a resurrection.

One must always go through death to reach resurrection. What must we let die so life can go on? Many of those who know the bomb first hand realized more quickly than the rest of us that the dropping of the atom bomb changed everything. For a resurrection to come from that loss of innocence we must let die our old ways of organizing cultures and relationships, our old goals, our old fears and our old wounds, grudges and resentments.

Might can never again make right, war can never again solve international disputes and indeed any battles, even down to the individual level, will not resolve the issue. Dominance over anyone can no longer be an option. Cooperation, respect and forgiveness and support will replace the old ways.

Maybe it takes a wound that big to bring that great a healing. Maybe our innocence, as with any child, needs to be betrayed so we can mature, individuate into fully functional adults that serve the greater good. Maybe it takes such a death to give us such a resurrection. It is still possible. Individuation does not happen over night, it is a long and often painful process that usually includes all the dysfunctional detours before actualizing a resurrection.

We are still making the choice. Each day we can decide again to join God as she does her best to meet the worst of what humans can create and make of it a magnificent resurrection.

This is my prayer.