Answered prayer

Talking publicly about the power of prayer is usually reserved for clerics and preachers. So when an American general of demonstrated courage and confidence chooses to make a point of it, his comments invite special notice.

Several days after his daring rescue from the hands of Red Brigade terrorists , General Dozier unabashedly stated that he prays regularly for himself and that during his incarceration he also felt supported by the prayers of others. ''One of the reasons I'm convinced I'm standing here today is that what you see - the successful conclusion of this situation - is the result of praying on the parts of a lot of people,'' he told a news conference.

The world should think more about the possibilities of this simple prescription.