Forgive Them Lord: They Know Not What They Do
This is an awful truth: Barring the unforeseen, Terri Schiavo is going to die. She has now been without food and water for so long that even if she were rehydrated, her organs might be so damaged that she would not regain her health.
How are we to act in the face of such a profound injustice? Many are feeling deep anger, fury, even hate. Some are tempted to act on these feelings. They must not! All of us must resist surrendering to the cancer of recrimination and embrace what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature. Moreover, giving vent to rage would not save Terri and would only reinforce the slanderous beliefs of those who are emotionally invested in seeing Terri's defenders as merely an irrational mob.
The better approach at this awful moment--the RIGHT approach--it seems to me, is to simply be in solidarity with Terri and her family.
For those who are Christian, during this Holy Week, the Lord showed the way. Pray. Pray for Terri at this, the time of her death. Pray for those doing this to Terri, "for they know not what they do." Pray for Terri's family that they find the deep peace that is beyond human understanding.
Torah and the Psalms offer much wisdom as we read of those being persecuted unto death who found wisdom and solace in the face of lethal societal rejection--which is precisely what Terri is experiencing.
Readers who are not sectarian but generally spiritual, I ask you to turn to that Source you perceive as governing life and seek solidarity with your dying sister at the level of the sublime. Contemplate what she is experiencing, be with her in your heart as she moves into whatever comes next.
For those without metaphysical beliefs, perhaps deep reflection and sober analysis are the right responses.
However we empathize with Terri and her family, our actions must always be, as we have the ability, centered in love.
And then, once Terri is gone, let us mourn her passing and always remember her sweet face as we strive unceasingly to create a society where all human life truly matters.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 6:30 AM
13 Comments
13 Comments:
This is good advice. I'm going to get off the computer right now so that I can pray and reflect as you suggest and to thereby gain the strength not to hate.
After that, I am going to get involved in trying to change these awful reductionist laws that deny the human spirit.
It is good advice, our family grieves for Terri and her family, my favortie prayer from the Torah is:
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace, and give you peace;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious, and be gracious;
The Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.
In Christ,
The Gibbs Family
Villa Ridge, Missouri
It is good advice, our family grieves for Terri and her family, my favortie prayer from the Torah is:
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace, and give you peace;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious, and be gracious;
The Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.
In Christ,
The Gibbs Family
Villa Ridge, Missouri
It is good advice, our family grieves for Terri and her family, my favortie prayer from the Torah is:
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace, and give you peace;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious, and be gracious;
The Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.
In Christ,
The Gibbs Family
Villa Ridge, Missouri
Thank you both.
Beautiful post, Mr. Smith. Thank you for your advocacy for the disabled and vulnerable.
Beautiful post, Mr. Smith. Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of the disabled and vulnerable in our society.
Thanks, Casey. Easy to say, hard to do. I almost went in the wrong direction on a radio program today. But that would not have been honoring to Terri.
I am trying to pray, but it is difficult for me to forgive the husband and his lawyer and the way the mainstream media jumped on their side in the case. I guess reporters relate to His "rugged good looks" and see a weekend trip to Disneyland with the kids as the ultimate good. And they have their head in the clouds about doctors, lawyers and especially judges. Few want to lay down their lives for others and take up the cross. Thank you for being someone who is doing that for many voiceless.
Hi Wesley,
Thank you for championing the cause of the disabled. There are far too few voices speaking out. Where, oh where, are the pastors, doctors and lawyers who profess to be Christians? Why aren't they speaking out about the corruption within the government, medical and legal professions?
Regarding your article, "Forgive Them Lord: They Know Not What They Do," we are reminded that God is Love. Holy scripture teaches, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:8)
Unfortunately, many (including Christians) think of God's Love as some type of feel-good sugar-coated type of love. They do not understand or consider all of God's Divine attributes, and basically ignore the whole counsel of God. If we do not consider the whole counsel of God, we have a God of our own making.
Many today don't seem to understand that God is righteous and holy. And because He is righteous and holy He is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). The idea of an angry God is quite foreign to a lot of Christians, because their concept of God is of a singular attribute--Love. But in His Love, God is just. And because He is holy, righteous and just, He is a God of wrath. http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Attributes/attrib_16.htm
To learn more about the attributes of God see: http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Attributes/attributes.htm
Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19). While Christians are to be sure that none render evil for evil (1 Thessalonians 5:15), we are called to reprove the unfruitful workers of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).
When Christians witness injustice, we do experience a righteous indignation and we are called to speak out and take action as we are led by the Holy Spirit. See: http://www.hospicepatients.org/anger-is-not-an-evil.html
Like Jesus told His disciples, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." (Matthew 5:13).
Christians must not forget that Jesus told us, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
http://www.gracevalley.org/sermon_trans/1997/Salt_and_Light.html
Kind regards,
Trudy Newman
Hi Wesley,
Thank you for championing the cause of the disabled. There are far too few voices speaking out. Where, oh where, are the pastors, doctors and lawyers who profess to be Christians? Why aren't they speaking out about the corruption within the government, medical and legal professions?
Regarding your article, "Forgive Them Lord: They Know Not What They Do," we are reminded that God is Love. Holy scripture teaches, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:8)
Unfortunately, many (including Christians) think of God's Love as some type of feel-good sugar-coated type of love. They do not understand or consider all of God's Divine attributes, and basically ignore the whole counsel of God. If we do not consider the whole counsel of God, we have a God of our own making.
Many today do not seem to understand that God is righteous and holy. And because He is righteous and holy He is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). The idea of an angry God is quite foreign to a lot of Christians, because their concept of God is of a singular attribute--Love. But in His Love, God is just. And because He is holy, righteous and just, He is a God of wrath.
http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Attributes/attrib_16.htm
To learn more about the attributes of God see:
http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Attributes/attributes.htm
Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19). While Christians are to be sure that none render evil for evil (1 Thessalonians 5:15), we are called to reprove the unfruitful workers of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).
When Christians witness injustice, we do experience a righteous indignation and we are called to speak out and take action as we are led by the Holy Spirit.
See: http://www.hospicepatients.org/anger-is-not-an-evil.html
Jesus told His disciples, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." (Matthew 5:13).
Christians must not forget that Jesus told us, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
http://www.gracevalley.org/sermon_trans/1997/Salt_and_Light.html
Kind regards,
Trudy Newman
Your post beautifully expresses words that endure.
Thank you for your leadership during this very difficult time.
We definitely need your voice in our society to educate, instruct, and inspire.
Wesley,
I have had plenty of time to reflect upon what has been happening to Terri and how it has been played out in Holy Week. I have reflected upon how the story of Terri's betrayal served as a stark reminder of the betrayal of Jesus at Gethsemane.
Then as Terri lay dying, our beloved Pope John Paul II began his own dying journey. There was a stark contrast in what was played out. Terri's forced death lacked the dignity that the pro-euthanasia crowd claim that it would have, and Pope John Paul's death was very dignified, right up until the last breath. What a lesson for all of us.
Terri has not died in vain, and many of us, from all over the world are prepared to join together to ensure that we do not continue the descent into the hell of another holocaust.
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