The Evil Men Do

"You have heard it said, 'an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. Whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. ... You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven... Matt 5:38-45, excerpts

The morning in Tennessee was sunny and beautiful. My grandson was playing around my living room floor, and my daughters and husband had left for work. I'm sure I was doing my usual morning puttering, dishes, dusting, cleaning up whatever Caleb had spilled last...when the phone rang. My husband told me to turn to the news and find out what was going on in New York City.

The puttering stopped cold; I'm don't remember breathing; I couldn't tell you if the world was still turning. I was struck numb watching one of the towers of the World Trade Center blazing from what appeared to be a plane having gone mysteriously off course. Then, in horror, I watched a second plane fly into the second tower; and only a few minutes later, reports of a plane having struck the Pentagon, and another crashing in Pennsylvania. I called Dennis back and told him this was no accident...we were under attack.

These are my memories of September 11, 2001.

What happened that day cannot be forgotten, swept under a rug, imagined away, or rewritten. The destruction was greater than that of Pearl Harbor, the worst attack on American soil in our history. It was formulated, financed, and carried out by lunatic, fanatical followers of a religion built on hatred, deceit, and violence. Though there are those members who do not advocate the radical elements of this religion, very little is said or done within their ranks to stand against the terrorists who threaten to destroy every person or political power who opposes them.

And now, having said all that - -

I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High God. My hope and my faith is in Him, and my guide through this world is His Holy Word. Over two hundred years ago, at the founding of our beautiful nation, safeguards were put into place to guarantee that I would be able to worship in freedom as My God directs. I am free to pick up a Bible and read it at any time, in any place, contrary to what some would have me believe. The same laws which protect my Bible also protect my grandson's copies of the Harry Potter books. They protect every newspaper in the country, every magazine from "Highlights" to "Playboy"; and, those laws protecting the Christian's Bible also protect the Jew's Torah, the Hindu's Gita, the Buddhist's Sutra, and the Muslim's Quran.

I would never, whether urged by my government or my Church, become a part of any group wanting to burn any book at any time. I do not believe the writings of the Quran; but I defend the right of others to read and believe it. If I do not want anyone showing disrespect for my faith, I must not show hatred for theirs.

To those who will be burning the Quran on Saturday...I hope that you will at least be honest with yourselves and the rest of the world. You are not honoring Christ; you are only fostering ill will and mistrust. In my humble opinion, this "convert or destroy" philosophy of yours makes you just another bunch of radicals. I'm praying you will allow the Grace of God to change your hearts and your plans. If that does not happen...I'll pray for His mercy and His protection.