This whole Syria mess has been on my mind all week. I don't know, maybe that's because it's been, of course, ALL OVER THE NEWS!!!! And while I don't generally like the way the 24-hour (so called) news cycle beats things to death and to the point that you can't stand to hear another word, I find myself glad (while also horrified) that we are all grappling with the prospect of military action in (read "bombing the hell out of) Syria. In truth, I would rather we have a long, drawn out, ad nauseum debate about what we should do (or not do), than run headlong into a quagmire, as seemed to be our propensity prior to previous military actions. But I find myself sickened by the images of what we are being told are men, women, and children who fell victim to a chemical weapons attack. And I am equally frightened at the thought of lives that will be shattered by the use of missiles in a US strike. Not to act seems to turn a blind eye to evil, and to act (in a militaristic way) is sure to inflict a similar evil. Further, there are thousands of souls around the globe whose lives are threatened, oppressed, and extinguished by evil every day. We often hide this truth from ourselves lest we fall into the depths of despair.
Jesus said, "love your enemies." Were those words just spiritual platitudes, or did he really mean, love - treat (welcome in) as a member of your own family - your enemies - those who seek to do you harm? And what about the enemy of innocent people - as the Syria situation is justifiably construed? Should action be taken to protect those whose lives are threatened by said enemy? What should that action (or inaction) be? Shouldn't I blow away the bad guy intent on hurting my child? Don't I have the right to see the wretched wraith suffer?
Questions abound. And I certainly don't have any good answers. Another blogger offers the consolation of prayer... http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/too-big-reflection-prayer-syria. And the Pope has called for a day of prayer and fasting to be held September 7 as a way to reflect upon this awful predicament. I intend to heed his suggestion.
These are the parts of life that remind us how very fragile we are. Let us not pretend that because we have bombs and missiles that we can remove the evil that dwells among us. Let us not be deceived by our seemingly justified action against what we perceive as atrocity and believe that we stand squarely in the moral right. And let us not assume that because we claim righteousness as an end that God is automatically on our side. God has been and will forever be on the side of those who, in their weakness, suffering, and death, cry out for justice, peace and life. And it will only be in our fragility and vulnerability to a world of poison gas, GPS guided missiles, bad guys intent on evil, and questions that have no answers, that God will be revealed.
Its not that there aren't abundant blessings (see my post from earlier this week). But the truth of Jesus' cross, grave, and resurrection is that death is where God is seen most clearly. And when God wrestles with death, life always wins.
This business in Syria and so many other situations in the world seem to be about wrestling with death. And to wrestle with something is, in a way, to love it. Maybe that's why Jesus said, "love your enemy."
Jesus said, "love your enemies." Were those words just spiritual platitudes, or did he really mean, love - treat (welcome in) as a member of your own family - your enemies - those who seek to do you harm? And what about the enemy of innocent people - as the Syria situation is justifiably construed? Should action be taken to protect those whose lives are threatened by said enemy? What should that action (or inaction) be? Shouldn't I blow away the bad guy intent on hurting my child? Don't I have the right to see the wretched wraith suffer?
Questions abound. And I certainly don't have any good answers. Another blogger offers the consolation of prayer... http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/too-big-reflection-prayer-syria. And the Pope has called for a day of prayer and fasting to be held September 7 as a way to reflect upon this awful predicament. I intend to heed his suggestion.
These are the parts of life that remind us how very fragile we are. Let us not pretend that because we have bombs and missiles that we can remove the evil that dwells among us. Let us not be deceived by our seemingly justified action against what we perceive as atrocity and believe that we stand squarely in the moral right. And let us not assume that because we claim righteousness as an end that God is automatically on our side. God has been and will forever be on the side of those who, in their weakness, suffering, and death, cry out for justice, peace and life. And it will only be in our fragility and vulnerability to a world of poison gas, GPS guided missiles, bad guys intent on evil, and questions that have no answers, that God will be revealed.
Its not that there aren't abundant blessings (see my post from earlier this week). But the truth of Jesus' cross, grave, and resurrection is that death is where God is seen most clearly. And when God wrestles with death, life always wins.
This business in Syria and so many other situations in the world seem to be about wrestling with death. And to wrestle with something is, in a way, to love it. Maybe that's why Jesus said, "love your enemy."
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