This morning, I did not have to get up for work, but my partner did. She came eventually for some goodbye hugs, or so I thought. She was actually waking me to tell me that I had to stay in the house all day.
It seems that there is an armed gunman (who has shot off that gun and set fire to at least one house) roaming the streets of our quiet and lovely neighborhood, and there is a serious and intense manhunt going on as I write this. We are being told to stay in our homes, and the rest of Erie is being told to not drive through this usually peaceful area.
We were in the closed off area. Now it has moved a couple of blocks west, but I will only feel safe again when the guy is caught.
Much of the morning, we've heard nothing but a helicopter circling over and over with bursts of sirens.
And I think about the rest of the world. We are frightened this morning because of one guy with a gun and some matches. I think of the people in Gaza and the bombs being aimed toward them. I think of all the people all over this world whose reality is so much worse than ours this morning -- and how it is like that for them every single day and night.
(I hear the helicopter again.)
I don't know how they ever manage to have any sort of life.
This morning, I will pray. Marcy reminded me to pray for the guy who is doing this. That is not everyone's first impulse.
But I think about how it would be Christ's.
It hits me how radical his message was and is to this day.
Peace is not an exclusive club. The peace of Christ is for everyone. Not just the people "following the rules" or "being good."
We are called to offer peace and love to everyone. To our enemies.
The helicopter is right over our house and I am trying to breathe in that radical message so my heart does not harden.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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7 comments:
It's true - that guy must be extremely scared, angry, hurt, ill, etc. to be doing those things.
That's very scary. It's terrible to feel unsafe in your home. I'm keeping you all in my thoughts today.
Christine,
I pray for your safety.
It is absolutely true, peace should be for "everybody", everybody.
you and your partner are beautiful. i meditate for your safety, and fill my heart with loving-kindness for the armed gunman...
Oh, Christine. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Frightening, exactly, to have your sanctuary and neighborhood invaded in such a way. It sounds like you are learning all of the necessary lessons though, marked by your usual wisdom and sensitivity. Be safe, dear one.
Marisa
Stay safe and don't let a moment of violence harden you. As difficult as it is you are right to pray for the offender as well as for those harmed and threatened. You don't have to pray the same prayer, though.
You, Marcy and your community will be in my thoughts and prayers.
wishing you a peaceful heart and heartful peace, Christine.
you might want to read my old blog post:
http://lindasyoga.blogspot.com/2008/02/when-loving-kindness-is-needed.html
I wrote it after I had to calm my students when students were massacred in the university down the road.
it's all about metta.
peace
shanti
a-salaam aleikum
so shall it be.
Thank you all for the prayers. And Linda, thanks for the reminder about THAT prayer, in particular; it is so perfect and one of my favorites and in my fear, I had forgotten it.
It seems the man may have died in a fire he set. They aren't sure, and so my curtains are still closed. The Christmas tree is still up so we are sitting with those lights and I am trying to calm my own heart enough to send out good energy to everyone directly involved.
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