Prayers guide us better than common sense

To the editor:

A friend sent me a letter sent to your paper from an intelligent fellow with an amusing style lamenting the death of common sense. This letter got a spot on the editorial page of an out-of-state paper. It seemed to be a complaining about the failure of ethics in the United States. What is common sense? How is it achieved?

For me, a better way comes from James 1:5: "If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it." I keep asking, for I find common sense needs ongoing tempering by God.

A professor in a logic class gave a test on to see if students could use common sense before studying the subject. Ninety percent failed.

As for those who think President Bush's war decisions lack common sense, maybe he didn't pray for wisdom. Maybe we who elected him failed likewise. Who can say they prayed for those in government making these dire decisions? Realizing this may sting the ego, but not as much as desert sand blowing in the wind.

ALICE DAVIS

Mundelein, Ill.