Long National Nightmares Past and Present

When you think of World War II, which battle do you think of as most important? Many people would say the invasion of Normandy--but I do wonder if it's because it's the one that most people can remember by name, the one that makes it into the movies more often. I've heard some historians say that the battle of Stalingrad was more important. You might argue that the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved lives by making it possible to avoid these kinds of grueling battles.

On this day in 1945, just after 11:00 a.m., the U.S. dropped its second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. President Truman said, "I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb... It is an awful responsibility which has come to us... We thank God that it has come to us, instead of to our enemies; and we pray that He may guide us to use it in His ways and for His purposes."

I am struck by Truman's intriguing reference to God here. My brain spins at the idea of God using nuclear weapons in some redemptive way.  But why should that be?  I've spent much of my life believing that God and humans can take the most horrible circumstances and find redemption.

Still, that bomb killed 70,000 people.  The scale of death in World War II is still somewhat difficult to fathom.  I fear we may be saying the same thing about the new corona virus.  COVID-19 has now become the 3rd leading cause of death behind heart attacks and cancer.

Today is also the anniversary of the resignation of Richard Nixon.  As Gerald Ford took over, he said, "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great republic is a government of laws and not of men."

And now we find ourselves in a different long national nightmare.  What positive possibilities might come out of our current time of turmoil?