All of us are aware of the tragic happenings in Orlando
Sunday Morning. We are shocked, angry and
hurt. So many emotions grip us,
including fear- because all of us realize, it could have been us.
You may say “No, I wouldn’t be caught in a Gay Club, so it
couldn’t be me.”
But truth be told, do
you have children in elementary school?
Have you ever gone to a mall, eaten out in a restaurant or attended a
movie? What about driving? Have you ever honked your horn at someone on
the road? Maybe you have been in a
relationship with someone either personal or professional and it was not the best? You may be a manager who had to fire someone
because their performance was not up to the company standards. Perhaps
you have attended a simple bible study in the middle of the week…..
Yes, it could have been you…. it could have been me.
Oddly enough, every time we hear of these killings our world
becomes closer and further at the same time.
On one hand, we understand the pain of a mother looking for her
son. We understand the trauma of a
person pretending to be dead with someone else’s blood on them. All of a sudden, we come out of our
politically correct mindsets, our racial divisiveness, our spiritual
differences and we hurt together as one. But on the other hand, somehow we try to
figure out what just happened and who in their right mind would do something like
this. Then we start blaming.
Maybe if we blame someone, it will help us
with our anger, we can focus our pain and terror on a group or political cause- so we can feel
better from day to day.
We blame other religions. This leaves religious leaders constantly trying to convince us they are not part of the problem. They understand that this kind of anger can
turn into retaliation –even though they have lived and worked in this country
without any ill will.
We blame the availability
of guns. Which causes another battle,
since guns really don’t kill people, people kill people. Our next argument is if we would just regulate, maybe that will change this pain and terror we feel today. That leads us to the
next blame….
We blame mental
illness. This is normally where we
park when we try to make sense of something that makes no sense. But it does not completely explain the
disgruntled coworker, the road rage driver, the heartbroken lover, or even the person who is just angry
and feels they have nothing to lose.
Though we would love to believe it is all mental illness, then we have
to admit… all of us suffer from some type of it.
Then we try to name
it. Is it a Terror attack or is it a
Hate crime? Truth is… anytime anyone
takes another person’s life, it is a terror attack and a hate crime. It is driven by hate and it adds terror to
the lives the many people closest to those who have been lost as well as everyone who knows at any time, it could be them.
In Sunday’s attack, I realized we have become too vulnerable to our own
terror.
Just because someone we say is
mentally ill says they have ties with ISIS, does that mean they do? After all, they were supposed to be mentally
ill. Are they trying to connect with something
greater than themselves so they can go out in a wave of glory and confusion and
allow their name to live on? And of
course ISIS- whether it is a connection or not ,may accept it- if it is bad
enough. That way their goal is still
met. Terror. Then we fall right into the same trap that grips us.
Whether we try to blame someone
or try to get a target in our minds to help us cope. we are still in terror.
Our anger at the family that raised the individual may help, perhaps send them
a death threat, that will surely change things.
NO… it just keeps us in the cycle that started it all. HATE.
The bible says Fear has torment. (Terror)
“There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears
has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John
4:18
America is often best when we are under attack from a known enemy. We lay aside our differences and focus on helping
our brother or sister who are hurting like we are. Whether it is flooding in Texas, tornadoes in
The Great Plains, fires in California, or a lone shooter on the
loose. We have seen our best behavior when
we are fighting together against a known enemy.
America has the opportunity to be
better than that. If we realize that ISIS
is not our greatest enemy and that they are simply a tool of our greatest
enemy, then maybe we will look and find who our greatest enemy is. Yes, you expect me to say the devil, satan. Yes, I can say that, but if God is love, then
HATE is not working with Him but against Him. When we
hate each other whether by the color of our skin, political views or even our
religion… we are cooperating with our greatest enemy.
PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR. If we want to really settle the issue that
causes us the greatest terror, we have to learn to love.
Father God,
Thank You
for caring about everything that concerns us.
Lord, we pray today for every person who has been broken by this
horrible attack. Though we may all have
different views about You, I thank You
for touching their families, thank You for loving them and sending them comfort
during this time. Not one of us would want to
trade place with them, but help us to join together with them in prayer. To realize there is more that connects us than divides. Help
them to find a place of peace and love in the midst of torment and terror. And Father, we pray for our country. Help us to rely on You, to trust in You to
seek You. You said if we sought your
face and prayed for our nation You would hear and heal our land. We are not giving up on that. Thank You for sending healing today,
especially to Orlando. For all those who
suffer with mental illness and are
troubled in their minds with thoughts of violence, help them to get the help
they need to find the peace that evades them. We thank You for caring about all
of us, even those who are struggling today. We thank You for peace and for
hope, in Jesus name, amen.
(Get the book by Jacqui Goudeau " Departed Friends- Good Grief" chapter on The Blame Game.)www.wisdomspeakstoday.com
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