the KINdom of God

(Apparently, a more accurate translation from the ancient texts. And if that's true, a redefinition of what we're trying to build here.)

This is a trial post to the blog, through email since the school's content filter blocks regular access to Blogger.

You may have heard about the shooting in a church in Knoxville a few weekends back. It's the church Sarah and I used to attend during the late winter/spring of 2005. I still listen to the sermons online, on Sunday mornings if I can remember. It's a simple but beautiful church, where the two sides of pews are turned towards each other and the sunlight streams in through floor-to-ceiling windows. The shooting was carried out by a man angry at liberals and gays. He killed two church members and injured many others.

Then more recently, there was another shooting, this time at a high school in Knoxville.

Listening to the reverend's sermon today, I detect a controlled anger. It is aimed at the institutions and culture that allows and encourages this to go on, whether intentionally or unintentionally. In the case of the church shooting, the right-wing media personalities that influenced the man to hate gays and liberals and a politics that polarizes (for, for their to be conflict, there must be polarizing). In the case of the school shooting, the culture that does not teach our children "the DISCIPLINE to listen to views different from our own".

"In America, everyone makes an argument based on their rights, and hardly anyone makes an argument based on their responsibilities." What if our Constitution was framed in terms of our RESPONSIBILITIES and that was law? Would it have made a difference? Would we all be healthier? Educated? Have taken better care of our land, water, and air? It is the people that have never suffered hardship and have always been served that only think to demand their rights. If you have ever been indebted to someone for a hand or have prayed for help - if you have been grateful - you know the demand of responsibility -- to take care of each other and what we all hold precious.