Beslan—a response

In the face of the events in Beslan, Russia, where children became the strategic target of terrorists—separatists on the fringes of the Muslim world—life in many parts of the world came to a halt. News kept pouring in hourly. Beslan was a topic not just in the news, but also in public thought. The Russian embassy in Berlin was flooded with flowers, and private homes became the base for discussions. In our church, Sunday School children and teenagers gathered to share thoughts and to explore what our response might be.

I had to dig deeper, too, and my thoughts went to something comforting that I found in the Bible: "Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best—as above, so below" (Matt. 6:9, 10, The Message, by Eugene H. Peterson). These words from the familiar Lord's Prayer are a great assurance and a guideline for us. For centuries, people have been searching for—and finding—a spiritual perspective for trusting God's power to penetrate the surface of catastrophes and for trusting that good is in fact "setting the world right."

So, is it necessary again, after this recent act of terrorism, to declare the goodness of God and His protection? Is this the time to argue again for a spiritual perspective?

It is, I believe. Time to feel, again and again, more spiritual stability and constant compassion. It's time to forgive and love on the deepest level possible. Brotherliness and fairness are natural to all of us as God's children. And we can extend this conviction to those who are helpless and isolated, in great need of support and comfort.

In getting to the root of our brotherhood and sisterhood, we cannot afford to shirk our responsibility to know who we actually are—the spiritual reflections of an all-loving Father-Mother God. When we truly understand this identity, and the connectedness with one another that it provides, we discover the need to compassionately love—not "our" enemies alone, but "enemies" in general. Then we respond to this marvelous counsel: "One's first lesson is to learn one's self; having done this, one will naturally, through grace from God, forgive his brother and love his enemies. To avenge an imaginary or an actual wrong, is suicidal" (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 129 ).

The most recent acts of unspeakable evil are posing questions that go beyond Beslan. David Brooks writes in a New York Times commentary about the cult of death and summarizes: "This is the cult of people who are proud to declare, 'You love life, but we love death' " (Sept. 7, 2004).

But I wonder, Is it really a situation of "them" against "us"? And "us" against "them"? Terrorism is indeed redefining enmity, but it has not invented it. The yearning for peace will only be truly fulfilled in a deeper understanding of our spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood, and in taking our own place and responsibility in acting on it. This does not mean closing our eyes to, or in any way excusing, the evil perpetrated. But by giving up, in our own hearts, positions of "us" and "them" and the desire to seek revenge, we contribute to the healing of hatred, grief, and fear.

It is perhaps the best-kept secret these days that there is indeed but one Love, one Life, one good, that has infinite facets and holds us all in one family. The decoding of human DNA brought to the fore that we are indeed one family. But the world misinterprets this family as material, not in focus yet. It will become clearer, and shine more brightly, as we strive to include everyone in the Love that is God. We won't be satisfied, then, with just our own protection and preservation, but will realize a solemn responsibility to honestly care for all of humanity and entrust it to our dear Father-Mother God.