Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Praying soldiers

On the boat to Cagayan de Oro City last Thursday evening, I coincided with a big group of young people on their way to Lanao del Norte for a Singles for Christ Leadership Seminar (for a Christian group doing a seminar in Lanao del Norte, that takes a lot of faith, huh?). Oh yeah, they were loud and confident, in an edifying way. The vibrancy of youth, the confidence that children of God have!

What struck me was a group from the Philippine Military Academy, with the matching athletic suits and crew cuts. They were in a huddle on the rubber mats near the indoor playground. Praying, holding hands at certain times. Oh yes. Praying soldiers. Forgot to take a picture, though.

(A friend who is running for mayor in his town in Central Mindanao says that the NPA -- whose commanders are known to him -- pray, call out to the saints, when the bullets and mortars start to fly. Then again, even the Islamists call out to Allah. Why shouldn't our soldiers do the same?)

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