We all need to stop for a moment and realise that violence begets violence. It's a never ending cycle of revenge. Military force is not the answer.
Many people, in Syria and outside, including our leaders are feeling hopeless and that the only action available is to use weapons. Making war is easy; making peace is a much more challenging task.
I would ask everyone to pray for Bashar al-Assad. I am being told that he is the key to resolving this crisis.
I am very aware that he has committed some terrible atrocities but I am being told that he feels very threatened. He is in fear for himself and his family and this fear is overwhelming and paralyzing him. He feels cornered and is responding as a trapped animal does. He has forgotten his responsibility to his people, and the good that he has done in the past, he is seeing no way out other than through escalating the violence.
I would dearly love to see the United Nations and the leaders of the world call on Assad to stand down for the sake of his people. I am told that this is what should happen and that there is a possibility it could happen if he is asked by the whole world in the right way.
We all need to pray for Assad. That he will have the strength to quiet his fears and reflect on what he really should do. Assad like all of us has peace deep in his heart, he needs to reach in and feel this peace and act from there.
The world needs to provide Bashar al-Assad with an opportunity to do the right thing. I know he has been given chances that he hasn't taken but for the sake of the Syrian people he needs to be given another one.
I am told that if Assad is asked to step down, and allowed to do so with dignity, there is a chance he could say yes, but that it will need all of our prayers to get him to listen and do the right thing.
I am told that if he steps down peace will come to Syria. It won't be easy and will require the international community to help in providing positive solutions and support.
We are all accountable for helping to find a solution, each and every one of us. We can't say it's our leaders responsibility, or that of the United Nations, we all have a part to play and if we don't play it, our world, and all of us in it will suffer.
This is why we all need to pray now, and keep on praying for Bashar al-Assad.
