H,
I had one of those scary conversations about violence yesterday. It was
about our country and the tensions around identity, resources, history, tribe,
power and everything else. It was not a hopeful look at possibilities. It was
not based on the idea that challenges have solutions. It was simply this: blood
is the problem and blood is the solution.
about our country and the tensions around identity, resources, history, tribe,
power and everything else. It was not a hopeful look at possibilities. It was
not based on the idea that challenges have solutions. It was simply this: blood
is the problem and blood is the solution.
I could feel how inciting words said in a certain tone and with certain
facts could be. I could see the easy solutions make a point to me and become
powerful as an idea growing steadily to fulfilment. When we think violence, even
state-controlled violence, is the answer to problems lodged in the human soul,
then there will be no end to killing and no end to blood.
facts could be. I could see the easy solutions make a point to me and become
powerful as an idea growing steadily to fulfilment. When we think violence, even
state-controlled violence, is the answer to problems lodged in the human soul,
then there will be no end to killing and no end to blood.
It is a path to take, this incisive surgery against the rakish kinds,
but what a high price to pay. When we take lives, we are wasting all sorts of
things, including the divine ability of people to change. It has become too
easy to not believe in the light above the dark. The simple solution is always
the immediate one but look how beautiful the thing we are wasting is. We are
missing the opportunity to learn, love and be surprised. We are missing grace.
but what a high price to pay. When we take lives, we are wasting all sorts of
things, including the divine ability of people to change. It has become too
easy to not believe in the light above the dark. The simple solution is always
the immediate one but look how beautiful the thing we are wasting is. We are
missing the opportunity to learn, love and be surprised. We are missing grace.
I don’t know. Maybe, one day, I will know the arduous decision-making turn
it takes to make bold action louder than kind words. Everything eventually has
to be weighed. God help us that we always weigh these things with a full heart.
it takes to make bold action louder than kind words. Everything eventually has
to be weighed. God help us that we always weigh these things with a full heart.
Amen.