It’s been a painful, sad, heart-wrenching few days since the
news broke from Orlando. It hurts so
deeply to see the pain, the tears, the loss.
There is a sense of helplessness as we watch our world sort of implode
in high definition. Then, the
politicians start their ranting. Hillary
wants all the guns. Trump wants to ban
all travel to the US by Muslims. Blah,
blah, blah. On and on. Thank goodness for Christian love…except for
that pastor in Sacramento who lamented the fact that the shooter didn’t finish
the job. Seriously? How do you get from “Love your enemies” to
that?
How did we get so full of hate?
Then, again. Are we
really any more full of hate than we’ve ever been? If you don’t twist the numbers to suit the
story, Orlando wasn’t the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Not even close. Look up Wounded Knee in 1890. Besides that one, there are still a few more
that were larger—they were just a long time ago. And, let’s not forget the institutional
enslavement, abuse, and murder perpetrated against black folks over the last
several hundred years. Plus, the
Irish have been hated, the Italians have been hated, the Japanese have been
hated. I could make nearly an endless
list.
No, I don’t think there’s any more hate than there ever has
been. Rather, we’ve just redirected it
toward new targets.
Folks, our solution is not going to be found in the November
election. Neither Clinton nor Trump holds
the answers. The world will not change
unless we change our hearts. Or, rather,
unless we open our hearts and allow our creator to change them for us. We have to set aside our anger and rage. Then, we have to decide to try something new, something different.
Jesus said: “You have heard that is was said to ‘love
your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But, I tell you, love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-44a
You know—maybe he really meant that.
Or, if you won’t listen to Jesus, would you care to consider
these lyrics from Bill Backer, Billy Davis, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway:
I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honeybees
And snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company
Those are my thoughts for tonight. Time for sleep. Tomorrow is a new day, full of promise and
opportunity. I think I’ll look for
someone to love.
