Eternal Flame

Eternal Flame. These two words are used to describe the fire that burns at President John F. Kennedy's grave. For me they bring to mind a tribute to a great American hero taken in an act of hatred and tyranny. The unfortunate truth is that just like the eternal flame that burns at President Kennedy's gravesite, so the fire of hatred rages in the world today. It is a destructive force inflicting pain without discrimination. It is a seemingtly unstoppable force that has resulted in loss of hope, loss of vision, loss of religion, and loss of life. No one is immune to hatred, either to feeling it or feeling its effects. It is a fire that cannot be quenched by anything tangible.

So why do I begin on such a dire note? While perusing current events this morning I came across an article on the BBC website that stoked a fire within my soul and led me to some personal reflection. This is not something I would normally speak out about in public or on a forum such as this. However, I promised to give it my best effort and so I feel compelled to stretch myself as a person and publicly voice my opinion and face the controversy however great or slight it may be. I have attached a link to the article in its entirety with this blog. Please read it, as the author Mr. Paul Adams did a wonderful job in laying out the story in a very professional manner.

The article is describing how a small church in America, the Dove World Outreach Center, intends to have a Koran burning at their 9/11 rememberance ceremony. The article goes on to describe a warning issued by Gen. Petraeus, the top commander in Afghanistan, of the negative effects this will have on troops on the ground in Afghanistan. The White House and NATO, as well as the US embassy in Kabul, have also expressed their concern on how this will affect international relations. This small church has caused a definite stir in the world with their decision.

I am not Islamic. I have no particular attachment to the Koran. I will admit that I was angry with the events that transpired on September 11, 2001, even to the point of hatred. I have stated in my previous post that I was raised in an Amish-Mennonite community. I was raised in a home based on the Bible. I am a Christian. However, no where in my upbringing, in the Bible, or in my walk with God do I find any kind of justification for this. This is a vengeful act of hatred designed to demoralize those who follow that faith. It is a shallow and misguided act of cowardess. The pastor of this small church, Pastor Terry Jones, states in their defense that, "We must send a clear message to the radical element of Islam." But what message are they sending? According to Gen. Petraeus, "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses . . . ." So by using the same tactics of hatred and terror we are somehow modeling a better way? The message that is being sent is that we are fighting fire with fire. Hatred with hatred. Why?

Simply put, we are hurt, we are afraid, we are angry. Our human nature cries for vengeance, for repayment of what was lost, an eye for an eye so to speak. This will not resolve the issue it will only serve to worsen the matter. Hatred cannot be stopped by hatred. Hatred cannot be stopped by human effort. Hatred can only be stopped by something greater. Something more powerful than its own evil force. I believe that something is "perfect love."

"One day hatred will be abolished, but it will not be by human effort."