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Murder or mercy?

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Inspiration

By Charles Towne

The victim was young, yes, young and very vulnerable to the attack of the bullies that surrounded her. They had been harrying her all morning. She was doomed.

What is it that so often drives the strong to isolate and separate the weak? What motivates the powerful to relentlessly attack that which they perceive as powerless? Some would describe it as survival of the fittest, or perhaps, culling of the herd is more fitting.

Chickens act this way. A flock of chickens will gang up on a member of the flock that is sick, or has been wounded, and bit by bit they will peck, peck, peck, until their victim is dead. What I have described above is a barnyard scene, very common among chickens. I would like to think that people know better, but… the reality is, without a moral code, without Christ, they are no different.

Bullying is quite common in our schools today. The hazing and accompanying isolation that goes with it often leads to sickness, even suicide. I am going to call him Doogie. Doogie likes to argue, and play with sarcasm. He will say something hurtful, something cruel, and then he will laugh and say, “Oh, you know I am just kidding!” That sort of bullying is no different than that of a vicious. barnyard chicken, Peck, peck, peck, and the cowardly chicken then says, “Oh, you know I was only kidding!” But that sort of kidding is deadly.

My wife is in a nursing home. She is in a little clique with several older ladies and I noticed something recently that gave me great distress. Mable, not her real name, is quite withdrawn. It is obvious that she is unhappy, but then I realized why. The other ladies, including my wife, pick on her relentlessly. One might say that this is a nursing home and because it is occupied with the elderly suffering from all sort of maladies, including Dementia, weird behavior could be expected, but as Christians this is not right.

Loneliness and isolation are killers. They break the human spirit. Let it never be said that we contribute to the diminishing of another soul. And while I am on the subject of bullying, gossip is nothing less than murder for it is character assassination. Our purpose in life should be to relieve suffering not add to it, Our purpose should be to spread love, not hate. inclusivity, not exclusivity. Mercy, not cruelty. Let it be said of us that we are Christ-like in all things, that the world is a better place because we were here.

Live wholly,

Love fully,

Love God, and make a difference, today

 

Charles Towne is first and foremost a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adapted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy filled life.

Charles Towne, Inspiration

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