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| Time Magazine's Cover |
This was the case Sunday night when the world heard about the "killing" of Osama bin Laden. As a citizen of the United States I cheered for the "justice" that was served our nation's Public Enemy Number One. I wanted to be in Times Square, Ground Zero, or outside the White House to cheer with my fellow citizens for the demise of one who brought so much suffering and death to our country.
I was proud of our leaders who never gave up on tracking him down and for the Navy Seal who served the kind of retribution the rest of the world would understand with a "double tap" to the head and chest of the leader of Al Qaeda .
As I watched the nation rejoice and the images of the raid flash into my living room, the Spirit of the Lord, my Leader, whispered in my ear, "He's one of mine, you know." I pushed pause on the remote.
In a millisecond, the Spirit reminded me of my King's orders to "love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." (Matt. 5:44)
The Spirit led my heart to empathize with those who had lost love ones on both sides of the war on terror and how military machinery-improvised or manufactured-tear families and flesh apart.
The Spirit reminded me that hatred and retribution lead to more hate and retribution.
The Spirit reminded me evil is real and people are capable of the most evil acts.
The Spirit reminded me that the weapon of choice for Christ's Kingdom people is forgiveness.
While my curiosity of the raid and espionage that led to bin Laden's death still simmered, my citizenship in Heaven and the call of my Leader sent me to bed saddened I get excited about such things and with the prayer of my King on my heart,
"May your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."