James Loney, one of three Christian Peacemaker Team members missing in Iraq, wrote the "Litany of Resistance" in 1991, during the first Gulf War. It has been translated into several languages and many people are using it during their witnesses against the continuing war in Iraq and in memorial services for Tom Fox.

<http://www.cpt.org/publications/litanyofresistance.php>

Parts are included in this worship resource:

<http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/cptfox.pdf>


Reflection

Tom Fox's death and the continued suffering of James Loney, Harmeet Sooden and Normen Kember are perhaps too deep for words. Indeed, when, as a member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams Steering Committee, I made pastoral calls to members of CPT's Reserve Corps (people who dedicate at least two weeks a year to CPT work) this past week, that was the most common response--"I don't know what to say." Perhaps that is because our emotions are deep and profound.

Perhaps it is because there is so much to do. Perhaps now is the time to examine where we put our security, how we spend our time, how we treat people and how we react to our government's decisions.

You may create your own To Do list, or perhaps To Be list.

We hoped that who Tom was would speak in life-changing ways to those who were with him day-by-day these past months. We may never know -- perhaps it did. But those of us who know Tom only through his words and actions might be the people most changed. May God grant comfort to the family and friends of Tom, Norman, Harmeet and James, and discomfort to those of us who have much to do.