I have recently come to the realization that I hate war. I absolutely despise it. I abhor it.
For some reason, I supported the presidents decision to go into Iraq and bring down Saddam. I figured what could be the harm in taking out a known tyrant? That kid in the picture up there, with tubes running out of his body, there's the harm. The man with the desperate look on his face, probably running to get help. This image sucks.
My great friend Carolyn Wanberg told me the other day that someone had gotten shot near her house. She initially told me at was a pellet gun, then it changed to an actual firearm. She asked me to pray for him, so of course I did. What the heck!
For those of you who know me pretty well, you know I talk about fighting sometimes. I boxed a little at kamp this summer and some of my kampers wanted to box with me. It's alright to defend yourself as far as I'm concerned, especially if some maniac just runs up on you and tries to mess you up. I'll fight anyone who comes up to me with the intention of hurting me. I feel like I should never start a fight, but always end it.
I don't know why I think that way. I just do.
I hope nobody thinks I'm a crazy person. I'll be honest... I let my old roommate David punch me in the face just so I'd know what it felt like. The last time I was in a fight, it wasn't even a fight. Some random 16 year old kid blindsided me while I was sitting in my buddies car, all because I told him earlier to step off for posturing at a gay friend I had in high school.
Maybe that's it. Maybe it's our intolerance, our fear of things we don't understand that leads us to become violent. There are certainly instances where violence can only be returned with violence... I'm not trying to walk away from someone trying to kick the crap out of me. Anyway... we need to stop being so intolerant. Why should we be afraid of people who are different than we are? If we're following in the footsteps of Christ, or at least walking along with Him, then we won't get anywhere being afraid of "different" things. Christ was hanging out with tax collectors, who were practically robbers back in the day. Jesus was kind to the Samaritans, who everyone regarded as crazy people. It doesn't matter if you're from Iraq, China, Russia, wherever. We're different colors, nationalities, and different believers.
Forget fear; we have the opportunity to serve an omnipotent God. Christ came to change the world; He's calling us to live a "different" lifestyle anyway. Don't harbor hate for your brother, and don't talk behind the back of your sister. Let's just love man. Unconditionally. That's the same love Christ poured into thousands. There's nothing greater.
...but seriously, I love a good fist fight. Just gets some stuff out, ha!
Love.
1 comment:
in college a friend and i decided that since neither of us had ever been in a fight we should each punch each other in the face, just so we'd know what it feels like. plus, we would get the satisfaction of wailing on someone without actually having anyone pissed off at us.
in the end, we couldn't do it. we just stood in the hall of the dorm, and again we stood in the middle of the soccer field at like 1 in the morning, just looking at each other with our fists balled...unable to do it.
so i still don't know the feeling. maybe one day...
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