I climbed into bed Sunday night and heard the announcement on the news. It was 10:30 pm, and the President planned to address the nation soon after. I said, "Do you think it's something about Libya?" My husband thought they might have found Osama bin Laden. He often calls the twists in movies long before we get to them, so I was not surprised to learn moments later, he was right.
Tears streamed through thoughts of lives lost, patriots who toiled and sacrificed and fell ill of the effects long after that day, soldiers, families missing loved ones. That sunny morning gone dark, we all watched blue sky erupt a second time on our office television, fire and ash consuming, tall towers collapsing, September 11th, 2001.
I remember that day, Americans running from the towers, jumping from floors too close to sky, later speeches at Ground Zero, the I-can-hear-you-and-the-rest-of-the-world-hears-you.
I remember awkwardly voicing thanks to firefighters, police officers, and military heroes, amazed by their bravery and the glaring beauty in humankind, great lengths scaled in order to rescue, aid, love.
I remember my desire to participate, sending tiny offerings of thanks and love to the troops overseas, praying for incomplete families tangibly torn apart by 9/11. Devastated yet grateful, we all basked in the unity of being an American.
This execution causes that slice of history to surface again.
Just a few nights ago, tears spilled down me, single source of evil fallen, one ambassador of the kingdom of evil perished. Lovers of freedom and justice cried "Victory!".
We learn of the mission, the end result death, and we respond. Our unity promptly dissolves, and we attack those who respond out of different emotion. People hail from ends of the spectrum, from satisfaction and vengeance to preaching love-not-war.
I take it all in and wonder, what am I to think? What I think about this will determine how I feel. I look to the Holy Bible, it's become my primary source. The Bible gives me so many points to consider, it's not a wonder this book never gets old.
The Bible says to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me; why wouldn't this apply to Osama bin Laden, self-proclaimed hater of Christians and Jews? He lived a purpose-driven life, his purpose to wipe out as many believers in Jesus Christ as possible and to influence his own disciples to do the same.
But this last decade, I don't guess I prayed at all for Osama bin Laden to come to Jesus. Did you?
The Bible is also full of murders, wars and wipeouts, beginning with the first brothers, the flood. I hate the wars, hate that this world seems to require them, hate the hating and killing. This life is short--can't we coexist and live these days out beautifully? It seems mankind is incapable of this as a whole, incapable of living without sin and death.
And now I remember why we are incapable of living without sin and death. We were this way from the beginning, and it hurts.
So where should I land on this issue, Osama bin Laden's death? Days later, I continue perplexed. I see no reason to tell anyone else how to respond to it. It seems a bit dishonest, blind even, to harp on people's initial reactions, to try to prove their raw emotions wrong.
We have responsibilities as Christians, but do any of us truly know how to turn the other cheek? I've heard my inner Mama Bear roar a few times, my little loves mistreated. I've thrown too many mature, adult-looking fits when my husband or children failed to consider me. I hardly think I know how to turn the other cheek.
Pray with me?
Lord Jesus, Teach us to Love great-big God-Love. Make us one in spirit and purpose. Grow in us the humility that considers others better than ourselves. Change us to have the selfless, serving attitude of Jesus Christ. Draw us toward You to such a great extent that we don't try to put on these attributes alone. Make them flow out of hearts in love with You. May we know You well, Father. Teach us where to "stand". In Your name, Amen.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:1-5, NIV
