A Ray of Hope

By John Lennon

Tonight I walked in our backyard and heard the strangest sound: SILENCE. We had not had tranquility during the six days of the country's political crisis.

That morning the streets were littered from the previous day's riots. Noon-time heat intensified the fights in the Senate. Ex-Commander of the Armed Forces, General Lino Oviedo, was arrested again for an attempted coup that took place in April 1996. The Senate voted to proceed with impeachment hearings, accusing President Raul Cubas for failing to comply with an earlier court order to arrest Oviedo.

Afternoon clouds rained on the funeral of Vice President Luis Maria Argana, who had been assassinated one week earlier. Rumors circulated that the military would be mobilized at any moment.

But something happened Sunday night March 28, 1999, at 8:45. The president resigned, and Senate leader Luis Gonzalez Macchi was quickly sworn in to replace him. The general who led the attempted coup fled the country, and democratic process was restored. Restless from enforced curfew, I visited a church member who lives nearby. We prayed again for God's intervention. When we turned on the news late at night, something amazing was taking place: instead of shooting, singing; instead of fighting, fraternity; instead of riots, the campesinos (peasants) were resting. God's people around the world knocked on heaven's door, and God answered.

"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:38).