Comments on: Weep http://online.worldmag.com/2008/10/03/weep/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:43:16 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: marilee http://online.worldmag.com/2008/10/03/weep/comment-page-1/#comment-352940 marilee Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:51:47 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=17584#comment-352940 Don't you think that people who weep at the thought of evil done to others, are far less likely to yield to the temptation of acting in rage/anger, even over little things? The Bible bids us to remember those in chains as though we were in bonds with them. Ouch! Yes, the terrible things that go on in the world are beyond our ability to bear. We could get an ulcer, or even a heart attack, from trying to carry such a load of awareness ourselves. But we must allow HIM to carry our burdens -- and us, as well! For we dare not become hard-hearted and not "see" the depth of need, or know the antidote to evil and ugliness, which is LOVE. Not a kind of love we are able to generate ourselves -- for man (generic) is a selfish beast! But -- "beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loves, knows God." May we consent to allow him to breathe himself in to us. May we open our hearts to receive, and then release toward others, a self-lessness and a loving-kindness. And when we see unspeakable wrongs and injustice, may we, to the best of our capabilities, be able to say to the oppressors: "That's wrong! And we're not going to let you get away with it!" Don’t you think that people who weep at the thought of evil done to others, are far less likely to yield to the temptation of acting in rage/anger, even over little things? The Bible bids us to remember those in chains as though we were in bonds with them. Ouch! Yes, the terrible things that go on in the world are beyond our ability to bear. We could get an ulcer, or even a heart attack, from trying to carry such a load of awareness ourselves. But we must allow HIM to carry our burdens — and us, as well! For we dare not become hard-hearted and not “see” the depth of need, or know the antidote to evil and ugliness, which is LOVE. Not a kind of love we are able to generate ourselves — for man (generic) is a selfish beast! But — “beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loves, knows God.” May we consent to allow him to breathe himself in to us. May we open our hearts to receive, and then release toward others, a self-lessness and a loving-kindness. And when we see unspeakable wrongs and injustice, may we, to the best of our capabilities, be able to say to the oppressors: “That’s wrong! And we’re not going to let you get away with it!”

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]]> By: mumsee http://online.worldmag.com/2008/10/03/weep/comment-page-1/#comment-352829 mumsee Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:34:11 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=17584#comment-352829 Good point, Michelle, probably why I was crying last night as I was reading Little Lord Fauntleroy to the kids... I just thought I was odd. Good point, Michelle, probably why I was crying last night as I was reading Little Lord Fauntleroy to the kids… I just thought I was odd.

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]]> By: michelle http://online.worldmag.com/2008/10/03/weep/comment-page-1/#comment-352822 michelle Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:11:17 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=17584#comment-352822 That's what having children does to you, Tony. I can't watch James Bond movies anymore, ever since I was first pregnant and in that film the bad guy is pushed out of a plane. As we watched him fall to earth, the audience cheered, but all I could think of was: "Who is going to tell his mother he died? What if he had dry cleaning to be picked up, or library books? Isn't this death going to put a hole in someone's life." My husband just shook his head. But maybe that's why God gives us children--to tenderize our hearts. That’s what having children does to you, Tony. I can’t watch James Bond movies anymore, ever since I was first pregnant and in that film the bad guy is pushed out of a plane. As we watched him fall to earth, the audience cheered, but all I could think of was: “Who is going to tell his mother he died? What if he had dry cleaning to be picked up, or library books? Isn’t this death going to put a hole in someone’s life.”

My husband just shook his head.

But maybe that’s why God gives us children–to tenderize our hearts.

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]]> By: REG http://online.worldmag.com/2008/10/03/weep/comment-page-1/#comment-352722 REG Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:15:39 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=17584#comment-352722 yes, the light needs to shine in the darkness, even where the darkness begins, with a haughty look, a prideful attitude, a put-down remark yes, the light needs to shine in the darkness, even where the darkness begins, with a haughty look, a prideful attitude, a put-down remark

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]]> By: mumsee http://online.worldmag.com/2008/10/03/weep/comment-page-1/#comment-352658 mumsee Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:29:20 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=17584#comment-352658 Every time I have to turn away children (twelve times since the renovation began two or was it three weeks ago, I weep. And I have to think, Jesus did not say to give the child a drink if your home is renovated so I am torn. Do I wait to finish before bringing in more? The design is to enable us to bring in several more and should be done this winter. Or do I go ahead and accept? We have taken three into the chaos and survived, even thrived. But I was exhausted. We can do more than weep. Many do not realize the conditions some of these children are coming from. Some is simple neglect (eating dog food or cat food from the dishes of the pets as no other food is available while parents sleep it off for several days, no bathing for extended periods of time, untreated illnesses or injuries, etc) and some is horrendous involving broken body parts, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and denial of any emotional support. Some are probably overreactions from the social workers. Some we wish the social workers had reacted sooner, those are the ones we read about in the paper. A lot of children are in our foster system, if you can, take some in. If you can't, support those who can. The kids are hurting now. Every time I have to turn away children (twelve times since the renovation began two or was it three weeks ago, I weep. And I have to think, Jesus did not say to give the child a drink if your home is renovated so I am torn. Do I wait to finish before bringing in more? The design is to enable us to bring in several more and should be done this winter. Or do I go ahead and accept? We have taken three into the chaos and survived, even thrived. But I was exhausted.

We can do more than weep. Many do not realize the conditions some of these children are coming from. Some is simple neglect (eating dog food or cat food from the dishes of the pets as no other food is available while parents sleep it off for several days, no bathing for extended periods of time, untreated illnesses or injuries, etc) and some is horrendous involving broken body parts, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and denial of any emotional support. Some are probably overreactions from the social workers. Some we wish the social workers had reacted sooner, those are the ones we read about in the paper.

A lot of children are in our foster system, if you can, take some in. If you can’t, support those who can. The kids are hurting now.

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]]> By: leoghann http://online.worldmag.com/2008/10/03/weep/comment-page-1/#comment-352632 leoghann Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:41:37 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=17584#comment-352632 Lord have mercy on us when we refuse to weep for the captives and the oppressed. (Luke 4:18-19, 19:41-44) Jesus did! Lord have mercy on us when we refuse to weep for the captives and the oppressed. (Luke 4:18-19, 19:41-44) Jesus did!

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