A Prayer for Scott

Scott and Debbie Borawski were members at Rochester Church for years. He had served in the military early in their marriage but had left it to go back to college when I met them. Debbie is one of those people who is endlessly energetic, optimistic, passionate, and sweet. Scott was the steady one, solid and thoughtful. Not long after 9/11 Scott indicated that he might re-enter the army. He was talked into finishing his degree, which he did a few years ago. He immediately went back to the Army. While he tried for Officer Candidate School, they gave him sergeant stripes instead and sent him to armor school.

Eventually, Scott left his wife and beautiful children behind and went to Iraq. His men loved Scott -- calling him "the old man" since he was older than most of the other soldiers. He was their team leader, but last Monday the 16th of October he was pulled from patrol to do Unit Movement paperwork. His four man team -- Colberston, Dumas, Unger, and Lauden -- went out without him. All four were killed by a roadside bomb (aka IED). The bomb was a powerful one that shredded their vehicle and the men inside.

The four men had been planning a big party for their "old man's" 36th birthday on the 21st of this month, but the party didn't take place. Scott was left alone, saved by a strange combination of Army paperwork and the Hand of God. He is getting care in Iraq and Debbie is surrounded by Army wives -- including those of the lost men, but what they all need is the love, grace, and healing that can only come from God.

Pray. And pray again. Pray for them by name. Create support groups for everyone in your congregation who is the parent or a sweetheart of a military person. And pray again.

My son and I went to see "Flags of Our Fathers" last Friday and we both enjoyed it. I feared an anti-military screed and he feared a whitewash of the brutality of war. Our fears were unfounded. It was an honest look at a time in our history that often gets turned into little more than a cartoon. It made me remember a line from the old M*A*S*H TV show after one of the doctors loses a young soldier. The CO tells him, "The first rule of war is that young men die. The second rule is that doctors can't revoke the first rule." (or something like that. It's been twenty years, people!)

Regardless of politics -- and please, no political comments need to be made to this post -- it is entirely appropriate to pray for these men and women and to pray for their families and to pray that God will guide the leaders of this and every nation. One lady in our congregation spends one hour in prayer every day -- you read that right -- asking God to bring the Muslims to Jesus. I pray that one day we will be able to send our sons with Bibles and not bayonets.

NOTE: some of you will want to write Scott and/or Debbie and offer support and condolences. I would love for you to do that. I will NOT post their emails and addresses here for there are too many who troll through the internet so that they can grab those addresses and then send "that's what you get you son of a..." letters to them. If you want to get in touch with them, email me. If I know you or have reason to think you are legit, I will send you their contact info.