In thinking of the horror surrounding the murders in the schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, PA we are all stunned. So many have asked 'Why of all places on earth would such violence come to this peaceful place?. What has become of the people in our world?"
What can any of us say? What can any of us do?
Pray comes to mind. Pray for peace. Pray for understanding. Pray for forgiveness.
The reaction that this community has responded with is something that we do not understand. The elders of Nickel Mines have asked for forgiveness for this man. They have gone about setting up a fund for his widow and their children. In fact, she was the only outsider who was asked to attend the funerals.
This is mind blowing to me. In a world of resentments and revenge run amuck for a group of people to ask for and bestow forgiveness on the man who viciously shot their daughters - execution style - is right out of the very bible that so many of our religious spokespeople tend to forget. At least those who seem to stand in the political limelight when it is of benefit to them.
I am so very moved by this simple act of humanity that I can't do it justice with words.
But think this, if our leaders had chosen to react this way in response to 9/11 how differently our world would be today? ( mucho respect to seefleur for the idea )
What if the Mennonites had instead picked up their scythes and run amuck through the countryside avenging the wrong done to their families? As we have done in Iraq? Is it truly no wonder why we have the reaction from the Iraq's that we have today?
Madness the world over.
However, in having this conversation with my husband this afternoon he reminded me of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' "On Death and Dying" and the inability to go from a place of anger to a place of forgiveness without the in between stages of denial, revenge, bargaining. That perhaps we as a people could learn how to get from one to another together - if we really want to change how we react to the outrageous world that we find ourselves living in today. With these kind folks we certainly have some amazing role models.
Please be kind, this is my first attempt at this. Such a heartbreaking time for so many. We need to keep them in our thoughts.