Police treating London mosque assault
as terrorism
as terrorism
|
A
vehicle rammed into people leaving London's Finsbury Park Mosque after
Ramadan prayers early this morning. One person died and ten were
wounded. According to CNN, the leader of the mosque protected the suspected attacker from the furious crowd until police arrived.
The attacker reportedly shouted, "I did my bit, you deserve it." London's mayor called
the crash a "horrific terrorist attack." If the assault was retribution
for jihadist attacks in London on March 22 and June 3, it makes clear
that violence only begets more violence. But we can choose to break the
cycle of vengeance. It is a fact of human history that our past need not
determine our future.
Consider Brooks Koepka, the surprise winner
of yesterday's US Open. Golf's four "major" titles are obviously its
most prestigious and stressful tournaments. It would seem that
experience is a critical advantage.
However,
Koepka had never won a major title before and had won only one previous
PGA tournament in his six years on the tour. In fact, fifteen of the
last seventeen major champions were first-time major tournament winners.
In athletics, our past need not determine our future.
One more example of our thesis: when Jacob David Alderdice proposed marriage
to Uzezi Elakeche Abugo, the engagement ring he gave her was too small
and cut off the blood to her finger. When it turned a dark shade of
purple, they rushed to the emergency room. The ring was cut from her
finger, leaving her with a lasting scar. The couple was married two days
ago, showing that in relationships, our past need not determine our
future.
Part
of our divinely created nature is our capacity for freedom. As a
result, we can refuse to return violence for violence. We can refuse to
let our achievements limit our dreams. We can view injuries as
invitations to a new life.
Consider
King David. The youngest of eight sons, he was ignored and ridiculed by
his brothers before he defeated Goliath and became king of Israel. In
Psalm 144, he explained his secret: "Blessed be the Lord,
my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is
my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my
shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me" (vv.
1–2).
Note
David's intimacy with his Lord: six times he used "my" in referring to
God. And the One he depended upon so fully gave him a future and a
legacy we celebrate still today.
When we make his declaration our commitment, his victory can be ours: "Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord" (v. 15). How blessed will you be today?
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar