“That it is rough out there and chancy is no surprise. Every live thing is a survivor on a kind of extended bivouac. But at the same time we are also created.” Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Yesterday, France suffered a devastating terrorist attack. Twelve human lives were extinguished because other human beings didn’t believe in their right to free speech.
The day before, I read that ISIS makes 1 million dollars every day from smuggled oil. A few days before that, I read an article about one of their most recently released videos. The video was of a mass beheading of more than 20 men which is horrifying beyond my ability to absorb, but this act of violence was not the main point of the article. The point was that the video was professionally shot with multiple takes.
It is easy to be a professional terrorist when one is raking in a cool million every day.
But..multiple takes…I couldn’t get past that part. I could not imagine what that was like for the men, human beings created in the image of God, who were kneeling on the ground awaiting their brutal deaths. Take one. Take two. Take three.. Just to get it right for the camera.
I asked myself in horror what had happened to the men standing above them? What vile darkness invaded their minds and hearts, seeping bit by bit around the edges until all value for another human life was obliterated until this action was deemed not only acceptable but…holy? These men standing were once baby boys, then sweet little toddlers. They could have been farmers, doctors, veterinarians, school teachers, carpenters…shepherds gently carrying lambs on their shoulders. They could have been tender fathers and loving husbands.
But they became professional be-headers wearing wireless mikes.
How can we not weep, Oh, Body of Christ? How can we not mourn alongside all creation as it groans awaiting The Redeemer’s return? (Romans 8:22).
Where is our hope found in such an hour as this?
Author Annie Dillard had this to say as she contemplated the brutality present in this fallen Creation-
“That it is rough out there and chancy is no surprise. Every live thing is a survivor on a kind of extended bivouac. But at the same time we are also created.” Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
And this is the comfort of “the survivors”- a Great Creator watches over us all. May He return soon to restore peace to His creation. In that beautiful day, His Kingdom will have no end…
Amen. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
