I don't deny that I have a deep distaste for war and violence. I find the idea of killing another person abhorrent. All life is sacred. And so when you hear that someone has died, someone who is blamed for the deaths of many, while I wonder if I should be happy and relieved, I mostly feel apathy. And I think I feel that because I don't think it will make a difference. Not really.
I am sure it makes a difference to those who saw this person as the reason behind the deaths of people they love. The reason why their country felt it had to defend itself outside their own borders. The reason why the world is such a mess. Maybe it brings those people some measure of comfort or peace, I don't know.
But you see it won't bring peace. This person is just one person and violence and war is a evil and multifaceted thing. There are hundreds more like this person. Some are on his side. Some are on our side. Where the only solution is death it makes us question... what is life?
I don't believe that humans were created to decide someone elses worth and to exercise that judgement. Only God should really have that responsibility. It reminds me of a theme in Harry Potter. In these books, a young wizard ends up fighting the most evil wizard ever. It is a classic tale of good triumphing over evil. The evil wizard has sought to make himself invincible by spliting his soul and secreting the pieces in other objects... so he can never truly die. And to split a soul you are required to kill another. There is a bit more to it and that but the idea of murder splitting souls resonated with me.
Back in the real world, the more I thought about it, the more I believe that taking another life does split our soul. And if it happens on an individual level, so if lives are taken on a collective level, as it is through war or violence, I think it probably splits the soul of humanity. Of our communities and of our society.
War doesn't actually bring peace. Not really. Weapons don't bring security. Not really. Taking someones life does not make our life safer. So I am not happy that this person has died. War hasn't stopped. The violence is still there. There is still a deep hatred and fear intrenched in so many. Using the same weapons as the enemy doesn't make us any better.
I don't know what the answer is. I believe that Jesus holds the key but I don't know how that is going to happen or when. I do believe that as a member of the Kingdom of God, I have a responsibility to embrace and extend peace and grace to others. And that's all I can do. If I can do that in my small part of the world then maybe its a start.
