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Rev.
Dr. John Fisk
In one sense the answer to this question, can any good come out of tragedy is
straightforward, but in another sense the answer is very difficult indeed. In one sense the
answer is “yes”, good does come out of tragedy. The Christian church
proclaims this message Sunday-by-Sunday, year-in and year-out. The resurrection
followed the crucifixion of Jesus, new life came out of death, forgiveness conquered
hatred, and love was victorious.
But in another sense the
answer is very difficult.
When we are caught up in the turmoil of grief it is very difficult to look at the
bigger picture. That
is something we may arrive at after a long period of mourning. We must do the work of
grief before we begin to answer the question, can any good come of this? What is the work of
grief? Coming to
terms with our disbelief, accepting our anger, crying our tears of devastation. I cannot emphasize the
tears enough. Tears
are vital for all of us, men, women, teenagers and children, and for every walk of life,
from politicians and military leaders to doctors and clergy. Without tears there
can be no healing. Without
tears our emotions stay bottled up within us and will burst out in rage and vengeance and
make us bitter people.
So we must do the work of grieving. Grieving is the beginning of
healing. Then we
can begin to see that good does come out of tragedy. Have we not already
seen great acts of heroism and selflessness? The story of the
people on the airliner who, it is thought, struggled with the hijackers to bring the plane
down in Pennsylvania will be told and retold in the annals of our history as the story of
great heroes and heroines.
So too will the firefighters who went into the burning buildings in New York City
and gave their lives to save others. In little and big ways
people across this land are giving of themselves – in prayers, in blood, in money, in
support. I cannot
emphasize the prayers enough.
They may not seem a lot at the time but I believe they are making a big difference. There’s a unity in our
nation, which we have rarely seen of late. People are standing in
support of one another and our leaders. There’s a
determination to counter the evil of terrorism in the world. President Bush and
Foreign Secretary Colin Powell are working to secure the help of other nations and they
are receiving pledges of support from all our friends as well as nations as unlikely as
China and Pakistan. Many
foreign nationals were killed in the World Trade Center attack, including several hundred
British citizens. This
attack was indeed an attack on the whole free world. If it brings the world
together in concerted action to bring these war criminals to justice and to prevent future
terrorism, then indeed much good will come out of this tragedy. It has always been tragedy that
has turned people to God.
Over and over again we have seen this in our national and personal lives. We turn to God for
comfort and strength. We
listen to the psalms, which are full of responses to tragedy and evil. “The Lord is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble”. “The Lord is my
shepherd … even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil”. Throughout
history people of faith have found not only comfort in these words but a truth that
carries them through the worst of times. Historians tell us that Hitler
made a big mistake when he directed his bombers away from the airfields and military sites
and started to bomb the citizens of London. He just made the
people of Britain even more determined in their struggle against him. It is possible
for good to follow on the heels of evil, if we have the faith and courage to make it
happen. My prayer is that this tragedy
will make us a more caring nation. I see it happening
already. People I
believe are showing more consideration for one another. Priorities are being
reassessed. Events
like these make you think about what is important. We take time to talk
with children about their response, for they are affected the same way we are. There are pleas
for standing together as one nation, and this includes the many different ethnic groups
and religions, which make up America. There have been
incidents of harassment of Muslims – you and I must speak out against any such
hatred. In
August I attended the International Day of Forgiveness held at La Salette. Little did I
know how soon its message would be needed in our country. I heard stories of
people like Walter Everett, a Methodist pastor in Hartford, Conn., who forgave his
son’s killer. Or
the story of Amy Biehl, a young American woman who was brutally killed In South Africa in
the days of Apartheid. Her
parents have set up a foundation in her memory and work actively in South Africa to
alleviate dire poverty there.
These folk have found a new life in forgiveness and its possibilities. They have come to
understand the depths of God’s love expressed in the teaching of Jesus, “Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you … father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.”
The image of God shown in
the stories of Luke 15:1-11 is a God who never gives up. This God relentlessly
seeks the lost, the abandoned, and brings them home rejoicing. God is like the
shepherd who searches for the one lost sheep, or the woman who searches for a precious
coin, or the generous father who welcomes back an ungrateful child. God never gives up on
human beings. People
have angrily asked why did God stand by and let this evil happen? I believe that Jesus
was right there trying to help the suffering and bring them home. Jesus was with the
many thousands who
had time to get out of the buildings, and the thousands of tourists who had not yet come
on the scene. Jesus
was with those who died and will bring them to eternal peace. Jesus is with their
families bringing help in time of great loss. I read two verses yesterday
from Philippians, which have helped me greatly: “the Lord is near. Do not worry about
anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The peace of God will
guard our hearts and minds.
God is our security.
Let us trust in the Lord and live confidently in these days of fear. Leave your fears here
at the altar. One
of the best ways to show terrorists that they are defeated is if we carry on our lives
without fear. Go
back to your everyday world and live to the full, do not retreat into fear. For you are the light
of the world – go forth and be beacons of that light to your neighbors and loved
ones. On Friday at 7 p. m. I was driving
down West Street in Attleboro.
It was the time people were standing outside their houses with candlelight. The sun had set with
glorious colors in the Western sky. And there was an
incredible rainbow that seemed to end somewhere in Attleboro. I thought of
God’s promise of the rainbow in scripture, that God would not allow the world to be
destroyed by disaster. And
a hope and peace came to me as I looked at the rainbow. God will
guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Believe the
promise and go forth in the peace of Christ. Amen. |
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