Meditation on Lent - #3
I used to work in a prison and have visited people in prison on a number of occasions. A portion of the individual with/for whom I work in my counseling practice are those who have struggled with addiction. It would seem that those who have endured prison, struggled with addiction or otherwise known hardship would be the most accepting and loving of humans. Yet, social scientists have studied the behavior patterns of those who known hardship or been abused. Those who have suffered abuse (by others or as a result of an illness or addiction) are more likely to abuse/mistreat others. On the surface this makes no sense at all and, yet, it seems universally true. It also seems true of groups and institutions. Christians, Jews, Muslims and others have and continue to be oppressed and otherwise abused in many parts of the world. Logic would seem to dictate that they would want to embrace those who were different in terms of beliefs or even behavior and, yet, that seems not to be the case much of the time. Although there are wonderful exceptions – Martin Luther King, Jr. ; Jewish nonviolent groups in Israel, the Quakers as well as a host of others – much of the hatred, verbal and physical violence, shunning and other mistreatment is perpetrated by those who have been abused. Often those most abusive in domestic situation are those who have felt unloved, unwanted and mistreated. At one level this is understandable. Often, us humans, use anger as a shield against past pain and the fear of new pain. Yet, we also know that is going to ensure that the cycle continues.
Surely, even without funded studies, Jesus understood this cycle. He clearly understood why humans labeled others as enemies. He understood that when someone worked hard for one’s possessions one got very upset with the person who stole from them. He understood why some would think that killing one’ s enemy before they killed was a good idea. He even understood why humans posited such concept as “the chosen people” and why one needed others to respect one’s God. He may have understood why some believed that “unless one called upon or proclaimed a particular god as “the one true God” one would not have eternal life. Yet Jesus also came from long line of misfits who believed that “I am” was the perfect description of God; why there was more than one creation story; why feeding people or hosting a dinner party was the most divine or spiritual action one could take.
He really did understand why Peter would thrice deny him or why Judas would betray him. His very humility allowed him to identify with Peter, Judas and other who would abuse and mistreat others. His very humility allowed him to make outrageous suggestions: Love your enemy; allow he/she who takes your cloak to keep it; treat your neighbor as yourself; respond to hate with love; to violence with nonviolence; to bullies with open hearts and arms; to the challenged leader with arms ready to embrace.
Perhaps for those of us using the framework of the Christian religion it is time to challenge ourselves to take the leap of faith; to consider that indeed we can move beyond our comfort to this discomfort of loving who we see in the mirror - those we often label the enemy.
Written March 9, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
I used to work in a prison and have visited people in prison on a number of occasions. A portion of the individual with/for whom I work in my counseling practice are those who have struggled with addiction. It would seem that those who have endured prison, struggled with addiction or otherwise known hardship would be the most accepting and loving of humans. Yet, social scientists have studied the behavior patterns of those who known hardship or been abused. Those who have suffered abuse (by others or as a result of an illness or addiction) are more likely to abuse/mistreat others. On the surface this makes no sense at all and, yet, it seems universally true. It also seems true of groups and institutions. Christians, Jews, Muslims and others have and continue to be oppressed and otherwise abused in many parts of the world. Logic would seem to dictate that they would want to embrace those who were different in terms of beliefs or even behavior and, yet, that seems not to be the case much of the time. Although there are wonderful exceptions – Martin Luther King, Jr. ; Jewish nonviolent groups in Israel, the Quakers as well as a host of others – much of the hatred, verbal and physical violence, shunning and other mistreatment is perpetrated by those who have been abused. Often those most abusive in domestic situation are those who have felt unloved, unwanted and mistreated. At one level this is understandable. Often, us humans, use anger as a shield against past pain and the fear of new pain. Yet, we also know that is going to ensure that the cycle continues.
Surely, even without funded studies, Jesus understood this cycle. He clearly understood why humans labeled others as enemies. He understood that when someone worked hard for one’s possessions one got very upset with the person who stole from them. He understood why some would think that killing one’ s enemy before they killed was a good idea. He even understood why humans posited such concept as “the chosen people” and why one needed others to respect one’s God. He may have understood why some believed that “unless one called upon or proclaimed a particular god as “the one true God” one would not have eternal life. Yet Jesus also came from long line of misfits who believed that “I am” was the perfect description of God; why there was more than one creation story; why feeding people or hosting a dinner party was the most divine or spiritual action one could take.
He really did understand why Peter would thrice deny him or why Judas would betray him. His very humility allowed him to identify with Peter, Judas and other who would abuse and mistreat others. His very humility allowed him to make outrageous suggestions: Love your enemy; allow he/she who takes your cloak to keep it; treat your neighbor as yourself; respond to hate with love; to violence with nonviolence; to bullies with open hearts and arms; to the challenged leader with arms ready to embrace.
Perhaps for those of us using the framework of the Christian religion it is time to challenge ourselves to take the leap of faith; to consider that indeed we can move beyond our comfort to this discomfort of loving who we see in the mirror - those we often label the enemy.
Written March 9, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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