Yesterday news broke about another tragic event. I’m sure you have read and heard all about it by now. I don’t want to add to the already contemptuous dialogue that seems to be common with these horrific happenings, but I have a thought I would like to risk sharing.
Why? Why does it seem that every time some tragedy befalls our fellow humans we waste time in stating our political beliefs? Almost immediately there are polarizing statements about guns and the legislation that regulates them. Almost immediately people are saying incredibly inappropriate statements about the victims political leanings, some going so far as to say they deserved it. Almost immediately people all over are reacting in a selfish manner, making sure their voices are heard, making sure that their rights aren’t infringed upon.
What a time to be alive…
I remember when Sandy Hook happened. All over the news and social media the conversation almost immediately became about gun laws. People were all up in arms about Obama possibly taking away their rights to own certain weapons. Others demanded gun legislation reform. All this while mothers were grieving over the horrific deaths of their children. Literally the same day that atrocity happened people were arguing about gun ownership.
What happened to common decency?
It’s been the same thing for every event since that involved guns. Sometimes more is made of the gunman. Sometimes it becomes racial. Sometimes the focus is on mental health. Most all of the time we, as the human race, objectify victims and their families and forget that grieving is happening, that there is a time and place to have these discussions.
Last week the United States was in an uproar about how some football players acted while the National Anthem played. While so many, including our nation’s leadership, were in an uproar, the death toll caused by multiple hurricanes continued to rise. Thousands upon thousands more are without power, electricity, water or shelter. Devastation spans across not only our own US territories but also for those in Texas and Florida where countless individuals have lost almost everything. While our brothers and sisters suffer, the rest of us argue over whether or not some football players should be fired, completely forgetting the plight of these victims.
We are so self-centered… Shame on us…
We are artisans of division instead of arbiters of unification.
Part of this blog’s purpose was to bring unity to generations that seem so divided, so polarized. I don’t think I can limit my efforts to just generational disparity. I think we need to speak up, hold each other accountable, and be honest even when it’s not the easiest thing to do.
So for those who made these past few weeks about yourselves… I ask that you stop feeding into the chaotic frenzy that is our American culture as of late.
For those of you who offered prays and petitions… thank you. Prayer is greatly needed for all of us presently.
For those of you who remained silent, I ask you to only remain so if speaking is unnecessary. If you need to speak up, be brave and say something, but do so out of love.
To all who claim to follow Jesus I leave you this:
James 4:17 ‘It is a sin when someone knows the right thing to do and doesn’t do it.”
When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26), so when some of us are in pain and anguish, we all need to empathize and care for one another. This chapter speaks specifically to the church and its function, but it also speaks to common decency which is something I think we have lost as a nation.
If we were a little less reactionary and a little more compassionate, maybe we wouldn’t see so much of this suffering to begin with.
Just a thought…
Until next time…
Peace out!
#Blessed