This is a beautiful video of a father reassuring his son that they do not have to leave France as a result of the terrorists.

Look, in any kind of firefight, guns beat flowers and candles. We all know this. So this video can seem a little naive, and probably leaves a lot of people scoffing at the stupidity of those who believe there are other ways to peace than through the barrel of a gun, or the sights of a bomber.

I might believe the same, except that I remember the story of Christian Fuhrer, a pastor in East Berlin. He spoke at a 24-7 Prayer gathering we had in Dresden, and told of how hundreds of thousands of people brought down the Berlin Wall, and reunified Germany, through the faithful use of prayers, hymns, and candles.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/christian-f-hrer-leipzig-pastor-whose-peace-prayers-rallied-resistance-to-communism-in-the-run-up-to-9593219.html

He is an example of one who did not let fear or impossibility define him, or his faith, or his God. He believed that candles and songs and prayers could overcome Empires, and he was right.

This does not mean that it will always "work". People die. Faithful people die. Good people die. Flowers do not always protect against guns (but neither do guns and bombs and drones and landmines).

Let us remember that there are worse things than death, certainly for Christians. Unfaithfulness is one of those worse things. Denying Christ. Disregarding his commands. These are worse.