Enough
Violence begets violence.
It is a lesson we learn early. Smack someone in the sandbox, and more than likely, they will smack you back.
But there eventually comes a time to say, "Enough."
Enough.
In Baton Rouge and St. Paul, enough. Lives snuffed for apparently no reason other than escalating violent reactions by people supposedly trained in keeping the peace.
In Dallas, enough. Lives snuffed while protecting others for no reason other than the uniforms they wore as they shepherded others who demonstrated peacefully for justice.
In Baghdad, enough. Lives snuffed because someone somehow thinks it is justified before God to do so.
Around the world, around the country, enough. Enough lives ended prematurely, graphically publicly, for no reason other than human madness and willfulness.
Enough.
Violence begets violence until someone stops the cycle.
An angry mob confronted Jesus with a woman they believed deserved to die. They held rocks at the ready, anticipating the moment when they could unleash their rage at her for being her. Jesus sat down, bent over, and scribbled in the dirt. Outraged by his lack of outrage, they demanded he vindicate their outrage, or denounce himself as someone outside the norm. He reminded them of who they were. Stunned and still, they saw--really saw everything as it was--themselves, the woman, Jesus, and the rocks. They left. The woman was released without condemnation, but the charge to be other than she was. She was redeemed. So, too, was the crowd--instead of answering one crime with another, they were spared by Jesus' demonstrated, "Enough."
Wherever you are, whoever you are, however you are--leave the crazy train of violence before it derails. See how you treat others; see what is ingrained within us; see the rocks we carry (most of them invisible); and see the better way, one with no rocks, one in which we can all be redeemed.
Take a stance of "Enough." Then do something different.
Love someone.
It is a lesson we learn early. Smack someone in the sandbox, and more than likely, they will smack you back.
But there eventually comes a time to say, "Enough."
Enough.
In Baton Rouge and St. Paul, enough. Lives snuffed for apparently no reason other than escalating violent reactions by people supposedly trained in keeping the peace.
In Dallas, enough. Lives snuffed while protecting others for no reason other than the uniforms they wore as they shepherded others who demonstrated peacefully for justice.
In Baghdad, enough. Lives snuffed because someone somehow thinks it is justified before God to do so.
Around the world, around the country, enough. Enough lives ended prematurely, graphically publicly, for no reason other than human madness and willfulness.
Enough.
Violence begets violence until someone stops the cycle.
An angry mob confronted Jesus with a woman they believed deserved to die. They held rocks at the ready, anticipating the moment when they could unleash their rage at her for being her. Jesus sat down, bent over, and scribbled in the dirt. Outraged by his lack of outrage, they demanded he vindicate their outrage, or denounce himself as someone outside the norm. He reminded them of who they were. Stunned and still, they saw--really saw everything as it was--themselves, the woman, Jesus, and the rocks. They left. The woman was released without condemnation, but the charge to be other than she was. She was redeemed. So, too, was the crowd--instead of answering one crime with another, they were spared by Jesus' demonstrated, "Enough."
Wherever you are, whoever you are, however you are--leave the crazy train of violence before it derails. See how you treat others; see what is ingrained within us; see the rocks we carry (most of them invisible); and see the better way, one with no rocks, one in which we can all be redeemed.
Take a stance of "Enough." Then do something different.
Love someone.
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