From Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov: "Love will teach us all things: but we must learn how to win love; it is got with difficulty: it is a possession dearly bought with much labour and in long time; for one must love not sometimes only, for a passing moment, but always. There is no man who doth not sometimes love: even the wicked can do that. "And let not men's sin dishearten thee: love a man even in his sin, for that love is a likeness of the divine love, and is the summit of love on earth. Love all God's creation, both the whole and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of light. Love the animals, love the plants, love each separate thing. If thou love each thing thou wilt perceive the mystery of God in all; and when once thou perceive this, thou will thenceforward grow every day to a fuller understanding of it: until thou come at last to love the whole world with a love that will then be all-embracing and universal." Watching tonight's news from New Zealand, I feel powerless, angry and disturbed all over again. Dozens killed in mosques. Another white supremacist, another grim young man armed to the teeth. Where does this end? Again, immigrants are targeted. Again, refugees are marked for slaughter. Again, the most vulnerable are scapegoated for humankind's inability to nurture community, protect the planet, and create loving habitat. And what comes to mind...to my troubled mind, at least...is Father Zossima from Dostoevsky's great novel...and his counsel...his encouragement... There is no short-cut to this revolution. There is no simple correction. There is only us. And only our repentance. And only love. "Love all God's creation, both the whole and every grain of saind. Love every leaf, every ray of light. Love the animals, love the plants, love each separate thing." God, breathe generous grace into the hearts of all who suffer tonight. And comfort our Muslim sisters, our Muslim brothers, with your kindness, resilience and courage. They are us, we are they, and all go forward together. Amen. | |
