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Tasmanian Anglican

May 2004

 

Terrorism making our kids feel unsafe

from Easter Awakening 2004

 

 

Thousands of children around Australia were once again invited to write down their prayers for their family, their country and themselves.

Now in its 15th year, this poll of prayers has become a fascinating and sensitive measure for what our kids have been feeling deeply about.

Thousands of these prayers were prayed from 6.00pm to 6.00am on Good Friday evening all over Australia.

While the drought still hovered as a core issue for rural children along with personal issues like school, family relationships and pets, it seems television images are sending them to bed at night feeling quite unsafe.

Typical

Prayers like the following were very typical this year,

I pray for Australia that all the terrorists will stop bombing and start doing good things in the world so everyone can feel safe living in Australia. Amen.

For a generation raised outside of Sunday School and in front of the TV news, it was interesting to hear poignant prayers like this,

I love you God and I always will. If I ever die, just don't forget me.

While country children were also conscious of terrorism, with prayers like,

Dear God, protect us from armies.

A range of prayers about rain, water and drought were in the forefront of their thinking with prayers like,

Dear God, please stop the drought, Amen.

There were very touching personal prayers. Sharlene aged five wanted more friends. Scott aged eight prayed,

I'm sorry for all that I've done that's bad.
Confused

Family issues once again figured largely:

I pray my family will get along with each other and will have a clean house.

It's always heart-wrenching to see how many prayers like the following turn up each year; from a seven year-old,

I wish I had a Dad who lived with me.

Some were confused about Easter and Christmas:

Dear God, thank you for your Son's birthday. Could I get a motorbike off your helper Santa?
Wellbeing

One eleven year-old had all the bases covered:

Dear God, please help people stop bombing all the places and please help other people to become Christians. Please help there to be no volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods. Please help people get food, water, money and a home to live in. Please help there to be no more wars and please help there to be no wars in Australia. Thank you that we have our families. Please help us care more about tadpoles and habitat that we need for them. Amen.

It's been an annual reminder of the way our media and society is impacting on our children's sense of wellbeing; [we need to be reminded] that love is not just a euphoric feeling but a costly commitment to a sense of wellbeing for those we love.

Mal Garvin is National Coordinator of the Awakening Movement 0412 904 589 http://www.awakening.org.au In Tasmania contact Matt Garvin 0413 598 62