UN Matters
An Instrument of
Your Peace
by Jennifer Butler
 When
a voice on the radio announced that a plane had just crashed
into one of the World Trade Center towers, I struggled to find
some peace in the midst of terror. My mind kept grasping at the
words of a prayer I was taught long ago-"Make me an instrument
of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love."
I found myself reconstructing new lines to this prayer as I watched
the news-"Where there is desire for revenge, let us find
a way to peace with justice." A few days after the attacks
I joined other New Yorkers and people from all over the world
in Union Square Park for a peace vigil. There on the ground,
amid candles and flowers, I discovered the words to the prayer
echoing in my heart. It is, of course, the prayer attributed
to St. Francis of Assisi.
What struck me most about the make-shift memorial in Union Square
was the number of handwritten messages calling for peace and
an end to violence of all kinds. The terrorist attacks on the
United States on September 11 have been called not just a crime
against the United States, but a crime against all humanity.
Citizens of as many as 60 countries died in the attacks. Our
question as Christians, as peacemakers, is how might we prevent
such acts from ever happening again. God, where there is hatred
and violence, how can we build the groundwork for peace?
The United Nations (UN) has and will continue to work to address
the roots of terrorist violence in the United States and in many
other countries. The UN has adopted a number of resolutions and
conventions that call on governments to take measures to curb
terrorist activity. Through its Terrorism Prevention Branch,
the UN works to equip governments with the latest terrorism prevention
information.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues its efforts to
equip people of faith as peacemakers, to provide humanitarian
aid and to advocate that the United States act as part of a global
community, rather than trying to crusade alone. To learn more
about these efforts, consult one of the following sources:
PC(USA) crisis site: www.pcusa.org
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program: 888/728-7228, ext.
5784 or www.pcusa.org/peacemaking
Presbyterian United Nations Office: 212/697-4568 or www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/unoffice
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: 888/728-7228, ext.
5806 or www.pcusa.org/pda
Jennifer Butler is the associate for global issues at the
Presbyterian United Nations Office.
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