It is easy to just watch the news reports or read about the violence in the world that is far away. Maybe it is too easy. As long as it is not in "my backyard", I can just turn it off. Or can I?
If we watch too much or read too much, we can become indifferent to the pain of others. It becomes just another war or just another killing. Maybe that is why our reports have to be so graphic, they have to "catch our attention" with the gore and detail.
When movies were silent and just beginning to be produced, you would see the victim approaching on one side of the building maybe carrying a balloon. On the other side of the wall, there would be the villain waiting. The music would play that gave the sense of tragedy. Then, the next scene was the balloon floating up in the air. No blood. No guts. No gore. The imagination was vivid enough to feel the pain.
Compare that with today's reports. We see the young man being bullied crying out in pain as other kids hit him. We see in vivid detail the replay of blood and guts. The autopsy reports give us way too much detail but for some not enough.
What changes our feelings and our perspectives--when it hits home. It is all together different when the person is a brother, sister, neighbor, or someone we know. When it begins to happen in our country, then it is of epic proportion.
So what does God have to say about all of this? Some of us remember singing a song about the world as children. It reminded us that this is God's world that God holds in God's hands---the whole world in His Hands.
It is time for God's children to awaken their senses to the suffering of God's world. It is time for us to be moved by the pain of others in the world who seek to live in a just society. It is time for us to extend our prayers--yes our personal prayers--for peace on earth and good will.
May our hearts be touched by the suffering of others. May our hands be moved to do all we can wherever we can. May our knees bow in humble prayers--knowing that prayer does indeed bring peace.
Join me in praying for peace.
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