14 June 2016

I think the strangest thing I've noticed in today's society is its propensity to pinpoint all the wrong things. In the Orlando shooting, the focus is now on racism and gun control, as if those were the deciding factors in the tragedy. I think the reality is that human beings are capable of infinite good and infinite evil, and in Orlando, we saw infinite evil.

The problem is not guns. The problem is not even terrorism, if this was a terrorist act. The problem is that we live in a world where people do terrible things to each other, and that is not something that we can change with a new law. You cannot legislate a mindset; you can't enforce compassion.

So often I think we get caught up in trying to force our will on other people, in trying to pass laws that go along with our point of view, when really a law is simply words on a piece of paper. In the end, it will not stop someone who has decided in their heart to do something heinous. That's not to say we shouldn't take a stand in our government, but perhaps in a world where violence and opposing views abound, we should take time to look to those around us, and to ourselves.

What would it be like if we, as Christians, were a community that left no one out? What sort of world could we create if we truly adhered to Jesus' teachings of 'love your neighbor as yourself?' Do we spend our days constantly asserting our own way, or do we look for those who have fallen by the wayside? Are we kind to strangers? Do we set an example of integrity and compassion for those watching us?

I think everyone wants to answer yes. But in the end, how do we treat the seventeenth clueless IT guy on the phone who doesn't speak good English? How do we respond to offbeat characters that spark fear in our hearts? How do we treat people who have hurt us? Even more importantly, how do we dialogue with people we disagree with? Do we hammer on theological points and miss that the person in front of us is a human being?

We live in a broken world, and nothing in this life is ever going to fix that entirely. We are flawed people constantly trying to ensure our own safety and lifestyle. We shake our heads at the way the world is turning and continue on our daily lives. Perhaps Clinton will win the election. Maybe it will be Trump. Hopefully, neither one.

But in the end, how much impact does a presidency have on what really matters? Presidents can change the surface of the world; they can start and end wars, change laws, and ruin diplomatic ties. But nothing, not a bad president, not a shooting in Orlando, can change the value that we place on human life, on compassion, and on our fellow humans.

We cannot force others to make the world a better place with rules and legislation. The hard reality is that the world becomes a better place one person at a time. There is no magic wand that makes people kind. Feminist persecution will never change the fact that immature people exist. Anti-gun laws will never change the fact that criminals with intent to kill will find a way to do it. Rules cannot fix the broken human heart. Change has to start with us, and we have to face that fact that making the world a better place is hard work, full of frustration and injustice, not some righteous crusade full of glory and sunshine.

I suppose my point is this: in our everyday lives and in our governmental choices, compassion ought to be our highest priority, and we have to understand that everyone's compassion looks different. Perhaps you have strong compassion for marriage equality, and I have strong compassion for victims of the bourgeoisie. Our focus will be different, but I think that if our hearts are focused on caring for other people, even disagreements can be civil.