I appreciate all the comments on my public heart wringing and apology. They were all , without exception, wise comments, as was the original post of Joe Carter @ Evangelical Outpost which was the last thing I read before writing.
I can’t say enough how I appreciate each thoughtful response:
Oceanguy, who soothed the fevered brow with his assurance that we should have a level of sobriety. FTS, on the importance of maintaining our constancy and living our lives unmoved by terrorists. Patsy, ( God bless her!) with her thoughts on prayer and the timing of carrying burdens of mourning and anger – like regiments of the army… each in their turn of service..
I am grateful for your additions, and here is what has been on my mind since I wrote that:
Joe Carter @ Evangelical Outpost said,”I’m accused of a having a “business-as-usual†attitude. Should I only blog about atrocities until we reach a state of “normal lifeâ€? Must I wait until there is no genocide in Darfur, no poverty in Appalachia, no persecution in China? Should I wait until there is no evil to be found in the heart of man before I blog about “happy pursuits? .We can’t wait until war has ceased or before human nature has been redeemed before we carry on with the job of living, laughing, marrying, lighting Sabbath candles and – as seemingly small as it might be – blogging.”
And what struck me is that, yes, that is how I feel exactly, those same feelings were running through my head, but they were somehow lacking… although they had a piece of the puzzle, as FTS articulated.
I think the conclusion I came to is that we tire, we get weary in well-doing, because we are really trying our best. The tide just becomes a little strong at times and we want to ignore its call on our energies. And I think it is wise to realize that we cannot face all evil manifestations with equal intensity at all times.
I believe God has an answer for us. It involves neither a false stirring up of ourselves, whipping into new fervor over each problem, nor does it involve growing callousness in overlooking the tragedies that others in our world are facing. I remember during 9/11 that I thought the British outpouring of verbalized sympathy was comforting- that they shared our shock.
But I believe that the right response for us, especially for us as Christians, is to moderate our tone to empathize with their sorrow, but also to turn toward God and pray. We do not have within ourselves the stamina to face all challenges, but we can turn to God for strength and for Him to give comfort. We can abstain from the more frivolous, but resume our life with the resolve to rejoice with all our hearts when it is time to rejoice. To fully enjoy the things of life- the marriage and new baby celebrations, the community, the beautiful land and the freedoms we have.
Yet, for a few moments of our existance we can set aside our interests for our friends. Great Britain is absorbing a harsh blow, one that we can identify with after 9/11.
Our prayers are with them, our hearts support them, we pay them respects for their losses. And we will all go on soon enough, but hopefully not before believers everywhere have interceded in some way for their healing and for wisdom to deal with ridding the world of what encourages men to do such harm.
And on our blogs, to give what ever we believe best deals with the situation, as we are convinced in our hearts is best. That is one of our strengths, this vast group of many types of people who can express freely and can join voices to bring much needed balance into a world gone awry, if we choose.
Thank you to those who gave their voices to me personally; you helped to settle my mind in the direction I think will best serve the situation. I know all our hearts are with Britain in this hour. We do not want to see the predominance of this sort of terror , anywhere.