I, like you, was horrified by the recent news of the mentally disturbed man who targeted a humble and serene Amish country school in Pennsylvania to carry out his perverted and suicidal assault. To imagine the terror that must have gripped those children as the murderer carried out his diabolical plan exhausts the resources of my imagination.
The media descended upon the scene like jackals to a wounded gazelle, hoping to stimulate their ratings by reporting the prurient and bloody details to their voyeuristic audiences. In response, a facinating drama unfolded before our eyes as the Amish sidestepped the media and carried out their humble, non-violent ways. The viewing public were very much left out of the inside story as news helicopters could only hover overhead to capture footage of berieved family members and community elders hand digging graves for the deceased victims. It was from a distance that the horse drawn buggies were shown enroute to the funeral. Unpretentiously it became known that the Amish community prayed for the forgiveness of the depraved terrorist who had violated their peace and tranquility, and expressed compassionate and merciful concern to his family. Within days, the little country schoolhouse was torn down and the entire scene of that grizzly crime was returned to pastureland--never to be considered a tourist attraction or perpetual memorial--but rather, a setting for life and beauty.
While I am certain that the families who suffered such a tragic loss are grieving; it will not be a grieving process complicated by hatred and thoughts of retribution. With hope in the resurrection and the power of forgiveness released in their hearts, there can be no place for bitterness or vengence. They will press on and, I suspect, arrive much quicker at a place of comfort and strength from God than many of us would in similar circumstances.
Juxtaposed against this story on the nightly news was the news from Iraq where we are sacrificing daily the lives of young men and women who have bravely volunteered to serve in our military. Standing upon the rubble pile and eerie devastation of 9-11 our president vowed he would hunt down and "bring to justice" the people who knocked down those buildings. With a "bring it on" swagger and a "peace through strength" philosophy, the United States military went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. What has ensued has been 5 years of bombing and warfare that has devasted large portions of two countries, resulted in the killing and maiming of tens of thousands of non-combatants, 3000 of our own troops have been killed in defense of the cause, and many thousands more have suffered life altering injuries. The war zone today is a seething cauldron of hatred and destruction-- a literal hell on earth. While we as a nation have been so engaged, "rogue" states like Iran and North Korea have seen it as an opportunity to develop their own weapons of mass destruction making the world an even more dangerous place.
The contrast between the non-violent response of the Amish and its aftermath with the war-mongering, violent response of our nation and its aftermath ought to give us pause. The Amish have made great progress toward the restoration of their tranquil lives while, as a nation, we are torn by political bickering, divided over the war, and daily calling for body bags. The Amish earned universal respect in how they handled the terrorist that hit them. We, the United States, are despised across the globe for the manner we chose to respond to terrorism.
I can't help seeing this contrast as clear proof that Jesus knew what he was talking about. Consider his words in view of all this:
"Here's what I propose: Don't hit back at all. If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. ...You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out your true selves, your God-created selves." (Matthew 5:43-45, The Message).
