There is a very natural and righteous sense of anger when innocent people are harmed. In my estimation that anger comes from at least two places in our hearts and minds.
Another place is that anger comes from injustice. Anger is planted in the need to have fairness which is stripped away because of events like this. We desire for there to be justice among people. Terrorist bombings are an extreme example of taking away equality. My right to live is just as valuable as your right to live. The destruction of all innocent life is a crime against God who is the giver of life and humanity who is our brother. There is no fairness or justice in the murder of innocents. So we are angry.
What do we do with anger? Anger can be the seed of revenge. Vengeance is the response to injustice and the theft of equality. It is natural to have a desire for vengeance however humans do not meet it out fairly. Revenge in human hands leads down a dark path. Often when men are motivated by revenge to seek justice they react with greater destruction and only perpetuate the violence. A measured response is needed.
How do we respond to the reality of violence and tragedy? Prayer. But not in a trite, blind-faith kind of way. Not the kind of prayer that momentarily asks to comfort the suffering and heal the injured. Not the kind of prayer that is empty words like when the leaders say "God bless America" because they don't know how to finish their speech.
The prayer I'm talking about draws us closer to God and brings us to a peace and strength which goes beyond our understanding. The prayer I'm talking about is a prayer that fortifies and allows you to move forward knowing that when these things happen it will not devastate you.
Prayer brings peace and calms us; it enables us to prepare for the future events and not only react to them. Prayer helps us to thoughtfully and with measure respond to tragedy. Prayer helps us to pick up pieces and begin to put things back together in a way that makes us stronger and prepares for a future peace.
It's praying the Serenity Prayer slowly enough to allow words to form in your mind and actually believe each syllable of every word. Prayer is to truly accept those things beyond your control, change those things that you are able to change, and to know the difference.
I saw today an American news outlet that has taken a moderate shift in how it's reporting this story. The journalists were not inciting anxiety as they customarily do. That is a good thing. God's desire is for us to draw closer to him and comfort those who are suffering and anxious and fearful. We are to resist hysteria and thoughtless reaction. Prayer helps us move forward thoughtfully.
As we remain calm we must at the same time be vigilant. We must reform those things that bring about organized violence by groups who hate us and we must stand guard and be watchful for those enemies of peace who are motivated solely by the evil intentions of their hearts.
Prayer is the antecedent of action. When we have the calm and peace the state is then prepared to meet out justice to the guilty. Ultimately God will be arbitrator of justice, but nations in this world have a responsibility to protect and defend the peace of society in a temperate way.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
A good word in trying times.
ReplyDeleteI almost always find meaning in the second half of that prayer:
"Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen."
Perhaps the first is the main outline, the second is the detail as to what it means.
I find a great tension in learning to NOT be an injured, outraged and angry party on someone else's behalf - in NOT presuming to forgive when I am not the injured party (as they accused Jesus of playing God when He forgave sin) - in NOT assuming fault for something I didn't do.
Those are all facile and easy responses - looking to find a quick answer that is in my depth. When instead I should grieve with those who grieve. Seek justice when this world's system denies justice. Ask God to search my heart, and show me what He finds - for celebrating, or for cleansing.
To make myself vulnerable to both the hurting, and the hurtful. To seek the hand of God desiring the healing of both.
And of my own wounds.
Instead, I want an emotion, a position, an outlook I can summarize in 30 seconds, which needs no accountability, and which justifies itself.
I want the easier path.
This prayer suggests that I should look with
more serenity,
more courage,
and more wisdom.
Thank you always for your thoughtful reply. The full version of the prayer is a welcome addition.
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