Jane and I led prayers at church today for Burma, joining in the Global Day of Prayer for that nation. Officially it has been known as Republic of the Union of Myanmar since 1989 but that name was given by the military junta which has exercised power in the nation for many years and is still under dispute.

One of the complications of the nation is that it contains a number of distinct ethnic groups. It came under British colonial rule in the 19th century and, after becoming independent in 1948, has suffered with various levels of civil war since the early 1950s. There was a brief period of ‘democratic rule’ from about 2010 but the military seized control again in 2021 and have been brutal in repressing the various ethnic enclaves. However, that is having the effect of uniting the minorities along with a proportion of the main Bamar group. Maybe the junta’s days are numbered?

We prayed for peace but also for reconciliation and for the work of those, like the Free Burma Rangers, who sow compassion and love in the midst of hate.