How do we deal with brutality?

The Christian Science Monitor

Charlie was terrified! He was nine years old, and the class bully said that he was going to beat Charlie up as soon as he left the school grounds. He didn't hate the bully and had no idea why the huge guy wanted to harm him.

So he did what all of us should do when we have to deal with brutality: he prayed! "God," he prayed, "I know You're all-powerful, and I know You love me, because You love all Your children. I'm going to trust You to take care of me." Suddenly he wasn't afraid anymore. He just walked out of the school. There was no sign of a bully. And never again was he threatened.

That happened to my husband many years ago. But brutality is something that has to be dealt with by every generation and by people of all ages, sexes, and classes. All around the world today large groups of innocent people are being treated with appalling brutality. The rest of the world watches in anguish, not quite knowing what to do. Civilization has for the most part progressed to the point where we realize that striking back at brutality with brutality doesn't heal anything.

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