We Are Our Brother's Keeper

People might wonder why a person would want to blog about something.  Today, with all the instant communications available such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc., you might ask, "can't  you just say what you want to say in a sentence or two?"  After all, nobody wants to take the time to read all that stuff anyways.  To them I say, grab a chair. 


Today I heard about another sad situation where a young man went on a stabbing spree at his high school.  Now, you may think I'm totally crazy here, but I really feel sorry for this kid.  Of course I feel more sorrow and unbelievable pain for the victims families, I can't help but really feel for this kid.  Every time I hear about these school sprees (and believe me I am awe struck at their frequency), I find myself heartbroken for the one who is so angry, so hurt, so misunderstood that he feels compelled to harm others.  

I feel for his parents as well.  I wonder what must have happened in the child's life to lead him to such dire straights?  I find myself wanting to understand him in a more spiritual way.  Where was his God, his faith, his conscience?  

A while ago a friend of mine who is very active in prison ministry told me a story about a girl who had killed her parents.  He wondered if she was truly sorry for her actions or if she just said she was sorry to get his sympathy.  He was getting frustrated because he felt like he couldn't get through to her and like he was being "played" by her.  

I spoke to him and said, "I thought your job was to help her heal, not to be her judge and jury?"  I'm not sure he liked my response very much because he quickly said he had somewhere else he had to go, but the question is still out there.  Are we not citizens of this community, of this country, of this world, of God's society of angels, here not to judge but to help the sick find healing?  While so many are concerned for the flesh and body and crime and punishment, are we at all concerned about the soul of this young man?  

Whether we like it or not, we are our brother's keeper.  We are all put on this earth to help each other reach our true judge and jury...Jesus.  Let us not forget our citizenship in heaven.  If it is at all humanly possible, let's try to understand the heart and soul of those in pain.  After all, some of us might even be responsible for the aweful actions of others because of how we have treated them or spoken to them.  I think we should try to make amends with those we have wronged so that they are not compelled to do wrong to others.  

So for anyone out there that I have hurt by either word or deed, I'm sorry.  You can always find a friend in me, that I promise.