It’s always the darkest
before the dawn. It’s in the lull before the storm that my fears are
heightened. It’s after the storm has passed that I feel the calm of normality.
It’s also here the love of God is most visible. After the danger has passed,
after evil has shown its face, I feel relieved.
This event is over, they
are dead, it can’t happen again. Not exactly like this anyway, and not in the
same place. Awareness is heightened, and everyone’s head is on a swivel.
Reacting to every noise, car out of place, backpack set aside. Evil recedes
into the darkness waiting for another opportunity. It will not return until it
feels safe, this when we drop our guard.
God becomes most visible
in these tragic times. You see God in the mass outpouring of people helping
people. They do not cower in their homes, or seek safety in a shelter. They
venture out in the open, allowing themselves to be vulnerable for the greater
good of humanity. This is true love, this is the Grace of God which is always
present, devouring hurt to help others who have been hurt.
We, as children of God,
put aside our differences to everyone, regardless of our faith, skin color,
age, gender, language, in order to reach out to give aid, comfort, and
spiritual healing. God does not create tragedy, nor does God cure the injured.
At least not directly, that’s our job. God gives us the power, through the Spirit,
for us to aid each other. The power to not cower after a tragedy
This gift of God is
always there. We as a people take it for granted until something happens. Then
we look to God and ask, why? Why did you allow this to happen to so many
innocent people? Unfortunately to real question is, “Why did we allow this to
happen to ourselves and to each other?”
We get comfortable in our
everyday lives and turn a blind eye to our surroundings. We get comfortable
with our faith, we forget that God has challenged us to be involved in the
world through the work of charity. It is through this work that God is most
prevalent. Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy for us to extend a hand outside of
our comfort zone.
It’s difficult to reach
out a helping hand where conflict may arise. But this is our challenge. This is
the command that God has given to us, a command of unbridled charity. Yes, it’s
hard to reach across the lines we have drawn for ourselves. I believe that if
we, as a society, work towards this goal, this command, then we can limit these
man made tragedies and live in an increasingly peaceful world.
Love is charity! Read 1
Cor. 13, and replace the word “love” with the word “charity” and you’ll get a
better understanding of what kind of love (agape) is being defined in this most
beautiful passage.
May God's love and peace be with you always!
David E. Gonzales
