Tears on a burnt face

The insanity of hatred was on display in HD full color in stories reported from the war in Gaza and the scene of the Malaysian airliner shot down over the Ukraine.

One man’s face is etched into my mind this morning. 

Hassan Ell Halak is a young father in Gaza whose entire family was killed instantly by a shell that landed on their home.  The camera zoomed to a close-up of his burnt face as he talked about feeling ‘helpless,’ caught in a war over which he has no control.  Speaking calmly about his loss, a tear slipped down the side of his face, a wordless indication of the depth of his despair.  I wept, too!  (CBS News report link)  

 I am not taking sides in this conflict.  What does a nation do when another rains rockets on its people? What are the poorest of people supposed to do when their leaders are bent on something like suicide, challenging one of the world’s best armies with donkeys carrying explosives?

Christian, we must pray!  Let our prayers flow from anguish as we let ourselves identify with those who are under the control of evil men, deceived men, cruel men who are themselves deluded by the Devil who delights in the destruction and death!  Some of you may counsel me to turn off the TV. “Jerry, these things are happening on the other side of the world. They come from old enmities, are complex, and will not end anytime soon.”  Naturally, you are right. I am not politically naïve.  But, I serve a mighty God and He calls me (and you) to be people who pray for His Kingdom to come, who give ourselves to the cause of justice.  So I will watch, weep, and pray.

When cameras carry us to the scenes of war and we sense the injustice, it may be a natural response to call for an escalation of the violence. “Send more weapons!” “Call on our elite forces.” “Send in the drones with more bombs.”  But, do we not realize the insanity of all this?  Yes, evil is hard and without mercy. Foes lie and manipulate.  Force is demanded to restrain wickedness. And so is reflection, prayer, listening, educating, and actually dealing with injustice. 

It would be a fool’s kind of arrogance to think that I can cut through the tangled knots of these conflicts. However, I take seriously Jesus’ words to care.  We, His people, are to be salt and light. So, let us pray, and pray some more, and then pray again.  Let us think deeply, not just respond. Let us ask the Spirit to give us insight, to see past the propaganda, and to influence – as we are able – those around us for the Kingdom.

Here is the word from the Word. Lord, use it to make us your radically loving people. Amen.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:3-16, NIV)