Thoughts + Ramblings
My heart aches these days.
I have many friends (and some late family) of Jewish descent, some with close ties and family in Israel, some who are Palestinian, or with families of origin where Jesus himself grew up.
While I cannot pretend to comprehend the mass amount of fear and grief that plague these groups at the moment, what is striking to me is that both sides are fearing genocide — quite possibly the biggest threat anyone could fear — whether by intention, or by collateral, but both, for simply existing.
I have seen it many places but I will say it again - it is possible to grieve both. It is possible to stand and seek to understand the pain, even to educate oneself about the conflict that stems from as far back as when it was penned in what would eventually become the Bible.
This kind of lean in, and pursuit of empathy and understanding and knowledge, is important most especially where we sit, on this side of the world, privileged enough to simply discourse heavily about it, instead of fearing utter destruction of our homes. It’s honestly the least we can do.
It is possible to learn and seek knowledge about IHL which prevents the slaughter of civilians in wartime, and to urge protection of an entire, targeted ethnic and religious group who finds themselves threatened at yet another pinnacle of history.
It is possible to hold in tension that putting an end to terrorism requires its utmost destruction and yet terrorism’s own goal is to beget more violence — so fighting it is also giving it what it wants.
It is possible to consider that while information should be shared, it can be re-exploitative and re-traumatizing to share wild graphic content about the victims of awful tragedy.
It is true however, that this week’s events have blown the lid off of a conflict that has gone on long before our generation walked the earth, and it is very real that as this war has been forced into the spotlight, the grievances and feelings of many, pent up for years, the fear too — is all coming rushing out. Terrorism is different than resistance, and anger should never be channeled into the former.
And while would seem at times that this might be simple, more black and white than ever— I see yet another video of a child with his legs blown off, caught under rubble, or another video of a father whose young daughter was killed, saying that it was better she be dead than tortured, and I wonder how any of this can every be anything but gray.
All of this to say, I’m with you, friend. For you and covering you in prayer — it doesn’t matter to me where your pain comes from or why. God is near to the broken-hearted, period.
Hug your loved ones, take a break from social media, read articles + try to understand complicated law + history + current events. Pray fervently for peace, relief, and the utmost turning of hearts from evil.
Psalms 34:18 : The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Helpful Things to Read (will be adding to this):
Background on the Israeli-Palestinean Conflict
Hamas Covenant Main (+ HIGHLY disturbing) Points
A helpful overview of the initial attack + some history of Hamas v. Israel