Can prayer heal a nation?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Not to pour cold water over a possible good initiative, but one is wondering, how does one reconcile free will with God’s invitation to heal a nation?

Hasn’t God provided men and women with a brain to dignify their freedom of choice? If a man decides to commit a murder, or any crime for which God’s involvement is currently being sought, how does that reduce crime any more than forcibly restraining wrongdoers with supernatural powers? If a nation must be healed by external forces, is that not just to impose on the will of people who may want to persist in doing evil but are restrained by powers beyond their control?

Would such healing be anything more than a Band-Aid if it’s not coming from a collective acceptance for help? Such requests seem to reduce the value of God’s own image by merely becoming like wheelbarrow – when he stops pushing, the movements also stop.

It seems also a little impertinent to be dictating to God what to do as if He isn’t already aware of the situation. Would it not be more timely and discrete to first determine what the will of God is?

HOMER SYLVESTER

Jacksonville, Florida