A rose by any other name would smell as sweet...not if you're a terrorist.

What If

Theology in the Trenches

by Kathleen Kjolhaug

 

After the carnage in France this past week, it wasn’t long before I pondered the question others were asking.  What kind of human beings live for the singular purpose of hurting others?

As I listened over the course of several days, the only point of contention I had with the broadcasters was their use of the word “terrorist.”  That title appears to bring those who own it a certain amount of satisfaction or they would not be taking “credit” for this most recent stage of horror.

There was one other word used by the broadcasters that I could not get out of my mind, and that was the word “soft target.”  Soon the two words, terrorist and soft target, settled heavily within my soul and I quickly came to one conclusion.  The conclusion I came to was that the only word that should rightly be bestowed upon those who take credit for this “lack of achievement” should be the word cowards.  

My thoughts streamlined to a new question:  What If?  What if they would call them cowards instead of terrorists?  Would as many desire to join then?  After all, it takes a true coward to pick out a place that literally has no protection, walk in with a weapon and hurt others.  I liken it to killing a cow. One just walks into a pasture, shoots a cow, and calls it a trophy. That is not a tactical achievement worthy of mention.  Worthy of mention are greater things of the heart.  It longs for so much more.  If we listen to the still small voice within, it longs to build.  What if all would be still and dream about the possibility of building up. Thus began my litany of, “What If’s.”

What if we moved as one big breath exhaling any fear…What if we moved as one in sync would caring be so hard?

What if instead of all this pain, some truly knew His name?

What if there was no human pride and all the throne was His…What if we hope for Him above while here on earth we wait?

What if we pray for all at will, would peace abound be still?

What if the wrongs were soon long gone because we simply care…What if no head would turn away or scold or point out shame?

What if we teach with that in mind, would we begin to bind?

What if we share what You have done upon that wooden cross…What if we bound each precious soul in Jesus name for You?

What if?  Amen.