Senseless violence
What violence isn’t senseless?
One of the things that haunted me when the World Trade Center was attacked was the thought of the victims going about their regular routine–on a beautiful sunny day at that–only to be struck down. Thousands and thousands of lives sadly changed forever. Because of senseless violence.
Now the image of happy theatergoers at a midnight screening of the new Batman film in Aurora, Colorado–only out for a good time–attacked as the film began, with gunfire and noxious gas, is all over the news. Senseless violence.
I can wallow in the injustice. Or I can bring something constructive to the table.
I was listening to a new song “I’ll forgive” by Michelle Armstrong as I read the news on Twitter. The irony hit me hard. Forgive? It seems too soon. The horror too fresh.
But is it? It wasn’t too soon for Jesus to forgive the soldier who was leading him to his death. He did it without process.
Armstrong’s refrain is one that I’m going to stick with today:
I’ll forgive and pardon
until 70 x 7, And still
For us both, from within I know
We all need compassion and grace to grow
I’ll be thinking about God’s compassion and gentle comforting presence today. She’s on the job effectively loving every single person affected by this tragedy in Aurora.
Will you pray with me?
Posted on Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 12:55 pm | Follow responses with the RSS feedTopics: Safety | Tags: Aurora, Batman, Colorado, shooting, theater
I started praying right when I heard the news and I feel bad for the people affected, but why do you think this event has galvanized more people than other tragedies have?
Thank you to all for these uplifting contributions. A Mary Baker Eddy quote from her book, Pulpit and Press, is what I’ve been praying with today: “Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love.”
This has many implications in regards to senseless violence. For one thing, divine Love is God, All-in-all, and so there is no mortal or separate mind to contemplate evil in the first place. Love, God, is everywhere; evil error is no where. Even though this error appeared to take place in that theatre, in Science, Love’s control of the situation was intact. It could not be usurped. Love is there now, as here, directing our thoughts and their thoughts. Thank you, Father-Mother, God, for causing this program Time4thinkers program to be aired so that I may be reminded to uplift my thoughts and see that Love’s allness cannot be invaded. We all possess this absolute power to think & act rightly. Yes, even the perpetrators – those who thought Love’s allness could be invaded and dispossessed of Love’s protection. Even they possess this power to think and act rightly. Why? It’s because we and they reflect the power to do so. We can’t take matters into our own hands – that would be trespassing on Love, the All-in-all. No, because we reflect the power, it can’t be lost. Each man, woman, child possesses the ability to know God, know good, and act on it. Love to all of you. Thanks again for this opportunity to know that God has not given up His power.
Thank you Amy and each of you for sharing. I’m with you. So grateful that this week’s Bible Lesson is on Love. Reminded me of an experience when I was tempted to react with anger and hatred…but instead paused to remember that divine Love, God, fills all space. That opened my eyes to see and acknowledge right there Love’s qualities present and actively being expressed. The whole situation resolved itself quietly and harmoniously.
With discussion now focusing around mental health, it’s been a good reminder to me to see and acknowledge right here and now the ever presence of divine Mind as the only Mind there is. And to know that as Mind’s ideas we are all receptive to good, right, useful and loving ideas. Even if it doesn’t appear that way, I can see and acknowledge each one’s spiritual integrity as a child of God, able to hear that “still, small voice” no matter what.
I am comforted by all your thoughts and prayers. So much love flowing. I am so grateful for you all. I too join everyone in prayer. I am holding in thought, that man is spiritual. There is one body and that is the body of Gods thoughts. An idea can never be harmed. Joy, love, patience, cant be taken away or destroyed, and that is who we all are, qualities of the one Mind.
Supporting these continuing prayers. Nate, really appreciate telling about your going to see that very movie and coming away with deeper prayer perhaps due to the movie’s theme of senseless violence.
Just heard that Christian Bale went to CO to visit survivors of the shooting today. Somehow that seems such a generous and uplifting gesture. good for him!
When praying and reading the weekly Bible Lesson this morning, I loved the passage in the responsive reading from I Corinthians 13:6-8 that says: “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails”.
I join everyone in holy prayer.
i’M GOING TO TRY TO FORGIVE INSTANTLY.
I was planning for Sunday School this evening and the word “every” struck me. Do I really believe, or better yet, understand how divine Love is omnipotent in “every” situation? Do I believe that Love creates and governs “every” man, “every” church, and “every” community? Do I understand how Love can remove “every” violent image?
Love helps “every” one. Including those in Colorado.
Thinking about the concept of “Every” really meant something to me tonight.
I love this idea, Ian! Thanks to you and Amy for giving me new inspiration for my prayers.
The Rose Still Grows Beyond the Wall
Near shady wall a rose once grew,
Budded and blossomed in God’s free light,
Watered and fed by morning dew,
Shedding its sweetness day and night.
As it grew and blossomed, fair and tall,
Slowing rising to loftier height,
It came to a crevice in the wall,
Through which there shone a beam of light.
Onward it crept with added strength;
With never a thought of fear or pride,
It followed the light through the crevice’s length
And unfolded itself on the other side.
The light, the dew, the dew, the broadening view
Were found the same as they were before;
And lost itself in beauties new
Breathing it fragrance more and more.
Shall claim of death cause us to grieve,
And make our courage faint or fall?
Nay; let us faith and hope receive;
The rose still grows beyond the wall,
Scattering fragrance far and wide,
Just as it did in days of yore,
Just as it did on the other side,
Just as it will forever more.
A.L.Frink CS Jnl 1901 vol 19 p160
That’s lovely Tara. Thank you.
I have been really thinking hard about this situation, and my thoughts keep leading me back to one thought. God is love. Love triumphs over everything and anything.
Jesus conqoured death, so we have nothing to fear. I am fairly new to Christian Science, but I must say with gods help I am growing stronger with each passing day. My grandmother shared a beautiful poem that I believe really fits this seemingly time of darkness that those affected by the Colorado shootings are going through.
Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I, and You are You
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the wasy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity, or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together
Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort, without the trace of a shadow in it.
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is ubroken continuity
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
All is well.
I awoke this morning with the phrase, “dark images of thought” in my head. I recognized it as a phrase from S&H. It’s on page 418 and says, “Speak the truth to every form of error.” Then MBE names some specific material ailments and ends the paragraph with, “…[they] are waking dream-shadows, dark images of mortal thought, which flee before the light of truth.”
For me, it’s important to let go of the dark images. Sadness, remorse, terror, tries to pervade thought, but letting the light of truth shine on all removes the fear, the regret, what wants to take over our sense of peace.
All evil is a dark image of mortal thought, but it has no power behind it. What is the light of truth? The truth that divine Life holds the only power, and there is nothing that can remove Life, peace, hope, from man. Man lives in Life, eternally, perpetually, continually.
That is the true image, the light of truth that dispels the darkness in mortal thought.
Right with you all. Love looms larger than any tragedy.
My heart goes out to the families suffering right now and the victimizer suffering too. They need our hearts full of love — an understanding of Love (God) that brings healing. And the sweet assurance that all will be well.
I saw the new Batman movie last night and it made me pray about senseless violence because it was a major theme of the movie. The movie portrayed, to a certain extent, that you can’t fight fire with fire, or error with error.
When things like this happen, I try not to react. Instead, just start with going to God and asking for His presence to be here with everyone. Love stills the storms. Love is that which comforts us and uplifts us from material lack and loss to a sense of life that is complete and continuous. Life is here and cannot be taken from us.
I’ve always loved Einstein’s thought that “When the solution is simple, God is answering.” I’m just praying that ever-present Life is right here, right now. No one can be without it. It is felt by everyone. There is no thing called death. God is loving us and helping us see this true picture.
I’m glad to join everyone in holy, healing prayer.
Thanks for being so proactive about writing, Amy. I was just reading in Science and Health where it says, “If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, and the healing is instantaneous.” (p.411)
It’s a pretty radical idea that when we let the power of divine Love flow through our prayers and perspective in this situation, anyone involved can experience instantaneous healing. That’s right – right now.
That’s the beauty of a power which is greater than senselessness, hate, fear, violence. Nothing can eliminate or hide God’s love. Instead, as you say, Love’s love is present, right now, to comfort, bless, heal, and wipe away any bad feelings; those at the root of this event, any resulting sorrow or suffering, and any inclination someone might have to do something like this in the future.
The tender, powerful, comforting love of Love is a wonderful thing to contemplate. I’m right there with you and everyone in Colorado.
Here’s a spot on editorial from the folks at the Christian Science Monitor:
The Monitor’s view:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2012/0720/How-to-react-to-Colorado-shooting-hint-no-dark-knight-rises
I LOVE that idea that it’s never too soon to forgive, highlighting the example of Jesus and the soldier. Thank you, Amy.