'He May or May Not Have Been the Bomb-maker' (by Marianne Kehoe)
He may or may not have been the bomb-maker.
Did it matter, now that I stood in front of his body, still connected to tubes and vents and drips, but a body that had already breathed its last?
No, it didn't really matter. I stepped to the bed and laid a hand on his still-warm forehead and prayed. I had always wondered if I would know what to say. And as I opened my mouth, I realized I didn't need to know what to say. If ever the Holy Spirit interceded for me, it was then.
"Oh God, as first you gave this life to us, so now we give him back to you. You know the secrets of our hearts and we pray that this soul may find peace with you. Amen."
The med techs and nurses began to clean the body as I went to get the kaffan, the traditional Muslim burial cloth. We can't—and don't—perform the ritual Islamic washing here in the American hospital in Afghanistan, but we do try to prepare the body as best we can for the family. In some small way, the hospital staff tries to make a difference; though they could not save this man's life, they can at least return the body with some degree of respect and dignity. It is the right thing to do. It just might also save someone else's life down the line.
Because he may or may not have been the bomb-maker. Whether he was or not, the exploding bomb killed him. And as his brother hovered nearby in the ICU, I thought about our small part in the cycle of violence that just maybe had a chance to be broken right here, this very moment.
If he was the bomb-maker, would his brother go home and say, "Even though he planned to kill them, the Americans still tried to save his life …. They operated, they bandaged, and when he died, they washed and wrapped him and prayed over him." And if he wasn't the bomb-maker, would his brother go home and say, "There are people who tried to kill my brother and there are people who tried to save my brother and they are not the same people."
I don't have any answers to that question. I don't know what the brother did when he took him home to bury him. I cannot see into the hearts of people as God does. But I pray for them. And if I am honest, I know I do it for two reasons. Jesus commanded it. And if prayer is as powerful as I believe it is, the neck I save might just be my own.
U.S. Air Force Chaplain Captain Marianne Kehoe is an ordained elder in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is currently serving in a large U.S. military hospital in Afghanistan.
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Comments
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
In the midst of confused, conflicted, impossible-to-make-sense-of, chaos--you are the first (in my opinion) writer in this series to offer a vision/strategy to peace.
Jesus did not die and rise again in vain.
Thank you.
Posted by: letjusticerolldown | March 16, 2008 3:17 AM
This was a touching story , and one reason we should be glad of having Christians being involved in this chaos in Iraq.
Posted by: Mick | March 16, 2008 7:55 PM
Why would you waste your time praying for an UNBELIEVER? Is it possible that in your liberal zeal for mediocrity you forgot what happens to those who don't believe in Christ? You so called "Red letter Christians" which should actually be called "Itchy Ear Preachers of False Doctrine", should read those "red letters" a little more carefully...
Luke 12:45-47
46. The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Exactly what "portion" did Christ ordain for the "unbelievers", you naively ask? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, did the Lord Christ prophesy his "seriousness" concerning the "portion" relegated to the "unbelievers" by more than promises? Could he actually have shown John their ultimate END?
Rev 21:7,8
7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
So your watered down "red letter" nonsense, as if ALL scripture isn't inspired by God, actually leads to the same people BURNING in HELL. Oh, and here's a couple of those "red letters" that you who "claim" to be Christian without receiving the Holy Ghost the SAME way the apostles did, might want to consider.
John 3
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Posted by: vincent ford | March 17, 2008 4:03 PM
Dear Vincent,
Imagine it is judgement day. There's two lines formed before God. All you know for sure is that the first line consists only of those who have called themselves Christians-- no one else has admittance. But the second line consists of a variety of individuals across the world, regardless of religion, who have done their best to love God and their neighbor and have asked for forgiveness when they have fallen.
Which line are you in?
Do you really think God judges one by simply a label and not by what is within them, the truth? How is that possible? That would be
hypocrisy. We can be great liars. God's judgement is correct and balanced. How do you think that is? How do you think paradise
stays-- absolute? Is it because it is filled with those under a label or those who actually were Christ-like? Remember, it's absolute--
forever and ever it will remain a paradise. Those in it-- matter in order for that to stay absolute. No, if ands or buts-- they would have to be peaceful individuals in order for it to be possible. As I have written before, we are not given a lobotomy before God-- we are who we are.
I love, follow, worship, and serve Jesus for everything that he is-- not out of fear, but out of everything he is-- pure righteousness. A white stone.
My Lord and My God-- forever and ever.
My beliefs concerning "born again" are different than yours, probably most-- but even so, none of my beliefs goes against the Bible or Gospels, themselves. Just a different interpretation in which I believe is truth. Below are my thoughts concerning it.
I know many believe being born again is something we need to do here on Earth. For me, it is untrue. Jesus said we are born twice--
from our mother's womb and Second-- by the spirit and water. He was talking about life after death. We are, Indeed, spiritual beings
having a physical experience-- not the other. It is why he told Nicodemus not to worry about it. If it was something so important that we had to do on Earth-- why did he tell Nicodemus not to worry or not have spoken it on the mount or at least to his apostles? Because it is the procedure that occurs after physical death. As God, we are spirits-- the water is knowledge. It is why Jesus told the woman at the well he could give her water in which she would never thirst. I know these things from my spiritual experiences, by Jesus himself. The meaning hehind being Baptized is a wonderful example.
One can not get into the kingdom without being born again-- because it is Not a kingdom of human flesh and blood. (Hence-- "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.")
The kingdom of Heaven is within us-- it is our spirits/souls that separate from us after physical death that make up the kingdom. Just because science still can not verify it doesn't mean it is not true--history proves that.
Elias may have ascended in flesh-- but he could not have remained that way in order to enter the kingdom. My proof is that of my own
near-death experience.
Jesus knew those did not understand-- at the time (and always), it was God's choice to make. ("The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.") We can not get to Heaven neither by force or suicide or anything else. The teachings of Jesus Christ-- is the way. Jesus was Not looking for glory-- but for the Father. Do you think the Father belongs only to the Christians? Jesus really is that humble-- yet, God as well. I believe we are entering into a new era of evolving-- not of the body, but of the spirit within it. He wants us to know. It's time.
Our spirit manifests the soul (a new body). This is why Jesus could appear, disappear, appear differently. And it is why Jesus said
to Thomas to touch him-- does a spirit have flesh and bone? But he did not say flesh and Blood-- Because flesh and blood is human. Blood is Earthly. Yet, Jesus knew both clearly. When Jesus asked Peter who he was-- his reply was that the Father told him, Not flesh and blood.
Jesus was the resurrection and the life. He is one with God. Paradise already exists. Everything Jesus said was correct.
The New Jerusalem already exists. I have seen it. How do you put new wine in old skins?
A new Earth and a new Heaven.
From the blood of Christ-- for the first time, a new Heaven (designed like Jerusalem, but made by God--not humans. Hence-"coming down from Heaven", because heaven has many levels, hence-- it is always plural, yet Earth singular.) filled with Earthly beings who had repented, were resurrected, and ascended (aka the rapture).
If I buy a new car-- is it the old one, renovated? Didn't Jesus say this was Not his kingdom? And have we not learned from the days of
Moses that even 40 years in the desert-- won't keep us All eventually from returning to sin? This life, through our choices, decides the next.
The body of Christ was missing when Mary Magdalene returned. Jesus was the burnt offering, the lamb. The first to be resurrected-- which was so intense, it left the imprint on the Shroud. Read about Jewish tradition concerning burnt offerings-- what do you think was in the napkin and why it was placed apart. Taught from the days of Moses-- to place the ashes aside in a clean place. Jesus began the resurrection of repented souls. From the cross, he said-- it was finished!
In the book of Revelation-- it reveals not all were resurrected-- but those who would not have to worry about the second death. The second death is Hell. Sorry-- but it is my absolute belief we are, indeed, of the second resurrection. Yes, we will All go before God in judgement and we are responsible for how we treated others, after loving God-- nothing is more important. Look at the commandments for proof-- each one after loving God is a reflection of how we treat others. How we treat others-- is loving God. Remember Jesus spoke that our treatment to others Is as if we are doing it to Him. The first resurrection was of the twelve tribes-- Like Revelation says.
I believe I understand what every line of the book of Revelation means-- and certainly not from my average intellect or creative mind, but what has been given to me by Jesus Christ.
Peace on this most Holy week of our Lord Jesus Christ, and always-- Elizabeth Daniele
PS: And as far as praying for the unbeliever-- didn't Jesus say to Love your Enemy? It's in the Gospels.
And for those who don't believe me and rather think I could be a liar or delusional-- Peace be upon you, as well.
Posted by: Elizabeth Daniele | March 18, 2008 6:09 PM
Marianne Kehoe,
Thank you for this honest, and authentic look at Jesus's grace being poored out by members of his body.
Peace be with you,
Posted by: Shaun Mazurek | March 21, 2008 5:17 PM
Well done.
&
well written.
Thankyou.
Posted by: Salaam = Shalom = Peace | March 24, 2008 2:03 AM
Dear Marianne,
Your ministry is a living testament to Resurrection...I believe that Jesus is truly working in your body, mind and spirit, to bring healing and wholeness to all of Creation. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your associates continue to make to be the Christ in our world today.
Posted by: Madeleine Breen | March 24, 2008 7:07 AM
Dear Marianne,
Such a beautiful testimony that God uses our hands to minister to our broken world.
Posted by: Betty Lou Winslow | March 24, 2008 11:31 AM
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