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This is surely a time for all of us who
believe in the Light of the Great Spirit to invite it to shine
in its many forms, through our lives and into the lives of
those around us. Through all of the tragedy and horror that
was brought upon Americans in the past few days, I AM heartened
to hear of the many people who turn to the best of whatever
they know to be their God. Perhaps, if anything good does
come out of this, it will be a renewed commitment on the parts
of those of us who are believers in the Good, to bring love
and kindness to a world gone mad. As is said, tragedy brings
about the best and the worst of humankind. Perhaps the greater
struggle will be to speak and act for love amidst the coming
cries for revenge that may all but overtake us in the days
ahead.
It is difficult for me to know what is the
best response to such an evil expression in the world. I remember
the stories about Chamberlain in England, who made a peace
pact with Hitler, just a few days before he invaded several
European countries, and was allowed to do so unhampered by
virtue of the "peace pact" with England. On the
other hand, how many more innocent people will surely suffer
when the United States goes into one or more foreign countries
and reeks havoc upon them? This seems inevitable. I don't
have the answer, that's for sure. But I DO KNOW that it is
a time to find kindness and to bring it unconditionally into
the world. And I know that we must be present with all our
myriad of feelings. Without doing so, there is no true kindness
or light of heart. Perhaps, also, we Americans have learned
that we are NOT invincible. May it bring us more compassion
for our brothers and sisters in all the world.
I don't know if you happened to see this
on TV, but at one point people who were coming out of a church
in Durham were being interviewed. There was one woman who
said she understood that all were praying for the victims
of Tuesday, and she too prayed for them. But her prayers of
that night were particularly directed to those who had committed
these acts, for they needed the prayers most of all. I think
one thing that makes this so difficult for those of us who
believe in the Light of God being in all persons is that we
have to see those who share in that light, even though we
can't see it and even though they have smothered it, by their
hardness of heart, doing despicable things to our brothers
and sisters. How do we account for the killing of ourselves?
Jennie Schaeffer
Counselor
Chapel Hill, NC
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