With the recent killings at the mall in Omaha and the shooting sprees at two churches in Colorado, my heart searches for a solution to stop the mindless murders.
What appears more vivid than ever to me is the fact that we cannot ignore our neighbors in need. And by “neighbors in need,” I’m talking about those who are struggling with depression, despondency, hopelessness and despair.
In news about Robert Hawkins, who killed 8 before shooting himself in Omaha, Nebraska, reports said that “Hawkins was kicked out by his family about a year ago and moved in with a friend’s family…” The article title refers to Hawkins as a “depressed teen.” I’ve read similar reports about others who have gone on random shooting sprees.
Aren’t reports like this signs that we cannot ignore the downcast in our societies without repercussion?
For too long, perhaps those who prosper and move along in life with greater ease than others wrestling with internal demons and feelings of personal failure, thought they could keep on going without regard for their neighbors’ needs. This error is finally coming to a head as those feeling besieged react against the darkness their thinking is embroiled in with violent protest. They lose their sense of reason and rebel in ways that get people’s attention, even if the outcome is horrific. The more horrific, the greater chance of attention, the illogic goes.
How do we stop this?
I don’t think anger, hatred and malice in kind is going to help and heal. These mass shootings are a call on our humanity and spirituality to lift struggling souls out of their pits of despondency before they resort to extreme and hurtful actions.
I’ve always figured that people who lash out in hate are really saying, “Please love me. I need to feel some love in my life.”
Jesus said it well when he instructed, “Love your enemies.” I see this directive as a command to love the evil right out of those who would harm us before they can do harm.
We cannot walk on by those struggling in life and believe there will be no consequence. We are seeing in terrible ways, that there are consequences to allowing our children to drift morally and spiritually afar. They need a spiritual grounding to guide them and inspire them out of trouble when times get tough. They need someone to put loving arms around them, give them a comforting hug and let them know they are not alone. They need to know there is hope.
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” has never had more meaning and relevance than today.
We cannot walk on by our neighbors in need, especially our children, and leave them to their suffering. If we do, we risk a ricochet effect like what we’ve seen in Omaha and Colorado that bears unbearable consequences. We can avert these tragedies with love—much love. We can and we must share this love to save our civilization.
I so agree with you, Evan.
Amanda
It’s true internationally as well.
I share your thoughts, Evan.
In an effort to begin to make some progress in healing this problem, to reach out to those who are lost in darkness and confusion, I put together readings for Wednesday on darkness and light.
What was interesting in this study to put the readings together was that I found many citations in the Bible instructing us to use our Christ light to help those who are lost in darkness, because with Christ we have that light. The Science and Health had some wonderful and helpful ideas as well.
My hope is that as I continue this study and reading them to the congregation, these ideas, this light, will burn more brightly in our own hearts and shine out to the community and, hopefully, reach those who are hurting. And then, maybe more light will come on some practical steps to help even more.
My heart, too, yearns to help in a tangible, effective way.
Amen!!
Depression is a low spot, not anyone’s true spiritual state of being. Rise!
Hope cannot be lost. Recognize!
Ps 37:37 and II Cor 13:11 Be
What interests me is that so many have responded to this universal sense of error in these young people taking so drastic measures to be heard, seen, even loved! I agree with Evan, love is the palative; however, what is sorely missing and so few seem to notice is that life does have hope; it is ingrained in us by our Creator. To access that, however, takes hard work, discipline, and as Mary Baker Eddy knew, a constancy in prayer. To measure life’s successes in small measures, quiet pleasures such as a thank you from an unexpected source, an acknowledgement from a parent, a teacher, a friend that you are noticed and to an insistance on good work, not sham or pastiche, takes some inner confidence built through a life time of discerning goodness and, I believe, adults are best in the knowing about this, but have too often been demoralized and disempowered and that is the work of policy change!
Sylvia
Hi,Evan,
I had been thinking on the same lines as you,and you expressed the One Mind perfectly. I agree also with Mrs. Eddy,the author of the book, Science & Health with key to the scriptures,that,” Divine Love aways has met,and always will meet every human need”,as well as the spiritual demand; to have a “concious,constant capacity to understand God”,good. Love is a living thing that has to be expressed one to another.It feeds,nurishes and heals the heart. Something as simple as calling some one on the phone to just say hello, just to let them know that somebody cares,and letting them know that they are important,can bring healing to a depressed,or troubled mind. Jesus met the human need right where the person was, in their thinking, while at the same time discerning
their need to rise higher into the true knowledge of their relationship with a loving Father-Mother God. Evelyn T.