Six different forms of prayer, representing six different religions, highlighted the National Day of Prayer observance for members of the 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard.
Among the leaders of those prayers, part of a luncheon May 6 at the U.S. Army’s Contingency Operating Base Speicher, about 100 miles north of Baghdad, was 1st Lt. Thomas Dyer, a former Southern Baptist minister and now the U.S. Army’s first and only Buddhist chaplain.
“Buddhists experience what all soldiers in the Army do,” Dyer said. “Buddhism needs to flourish in the Army.”
A National Guardsman from Memphis, Dyer now regularly travels to several different military bases in Iraq, visiting with service members and offering Buddhist services.
He said he converted to Buddhism after a spiritual transformation through meditation that left him feeling peaceful from within. The experience was like “a flower opening from inside, an awakening,” Dyer said.
That awakening eventually lead to Dyer’s meeting of a former Iraq war veteran who experienced a mission and subsequent actions that caused him torment and fostered painful regret.
Through Dyer and meditation techniques, however, that soldier was able to let go of much of his suffering, Dyer said.
That was when Dyer decided to become a chaplain, but he thought there might not be a need for a Buddhist chaplain in the Army.
After discussions with his recruiter in 2003, however, Dyer decided to join the National Guard. During that time, the recruiter told Dyer he thought it was time for a Buddhist chaplain in the Army.
“There are a lot more Buddhists in the Army than was realized,” Dyer said.
At the prayer luncheon, Dyer was accompanied by military religious figures of the Roman Catholic, Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish and Protestant faiths.
They shared a uniform theme of praising God, asking him “to show us the right path, to save our souls and to have mercy on us, answer our prayers, to comfort all nations, to care for our soldiers and the Iraqi people, to look over the children and bless the souls of our fallen comrades.”
About 75 soldiers and civilians attended the celebration, held in the base’s dining facility.
Division Chaplain Col. Bryan Walker opened the program saying “prayer is important as prayers are a communication with God.”
The National Day of Prayer has a long history. Prior to our nation’s founding, the Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending “a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer” be observed on July 10, 1775.
On May 9, 1798, President John Adams declared “a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer,” during which citizens of all faiths were asked to pray “that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten us.”
The day didn’t become official until April 17, 1952, when President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer that must be declared by each president on a date of his choice.
In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on first Thursdays in May.
The National Day of Prayer bill is currently being challenged in federal court by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, citing concerns of the government’s respect for the separation of church and state.
Ending the 45-minute program at COB Speicher, Maj. Terry Romine, a family life chaplain with the 3rd Infantry Division Task Force Marne, said:
“Our prayers today are for your blessing.”
Author : David Patton
Source : http://www2.tricities.com
