Darkness and Light

I have reflected on the Amish tragedy for a week now, and it still both shames and encourages me. It shames me b/c my own faith sometimes feels light years apart from their commitment to love their enemies. It is one thing to say that I know I should love those people that I don't like. It's quite another universe, nay, dimension to not say, but love, an enemy at the moment when the pain is most searing and the volcanic desire for retribution at its apex. And yet it is encouraging b/c it reaffirms John 16:33, where Jesus says, "I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

At a time when the darkness is most dense and the ability to forgive is at its foggiest, the piercing light of grace and forgiveness destroys that darkness in a way that darkness cannot comprehend or refute it.

I think this editorial post says it well.

What I most respect though is not for what the writer does say, but what he doesn't say. The writer never makes the mistake of calling the Amish 'passive' or 'pacifists.' And that is right on. There is nothing pacifist about their actions - their actions are the emobiment of Christ's love at its most aggressive.

There may yet be hope for me.