The news coverage of the Tampa Mom who shot her teenaged children - (age 13 and 16) for "talking back" to her - rings a familiar pattern which is repeated - once is too often. Also, in January 2011, a young Dad went off in Meridian (Boise), Idaho - where he stabbed his Mom to death, chained and tortured his wife, and endangered his baby. A couple of years ago (2007) - on Christmas Eve, a young daughter with her boyfriend shot and killed her parents, her brother and his wife with their two young children in Carnation (Seattle) Washington. First, society wants to know who did this? - who is responsible? - then why? Of all these four people who confessed to committing these crimes of shock - not one of them had any criminal record whatsoever. In fact, the Idaho young man had actually been a deputy police officer. The Tampa Mom was wealthy, degreed, and had been a military officer. The daughter with her boyfriend had been in business with the brother at one point. They were living in a trailer on the same property as the parents. "Typical" family issues were present in each scenario. So, what caused these people to flip - but with a warped planning mind over time - not a quick crime of instant passion.
There are many examples of this horror all over the world and over history. Some remain completely unsolved. Others, like the above three, society gets to go over the facts and ponder the ramifications. I noticed the above three incidents because each city happens to be where my siblings and I are - Boise, Seattle, Tampa. In Orlando, are other siblings, too - and there are too numerous tales of horror in the news, as well - take your pick from child murder, massacres, etc... from Moms, Dads, Brothers, Sisters - all inclusive like a Disney Horror World in Orlando. In another Florida city last Thanksgiving, an estranged brother sweetly included by a distant cousin, waited for after the Thanksgiving meal to massacre his sisters and family - and said that he had been methodically planning to do so for 20 years. So, one wonders - could any of this happen to our Family? And, of course we quickly think, believe, pray, and feel - no way, of course not - never. But, the lingering question of looking at some of the people in the news above - still should pause us all to make sure this could never happen in our families.
And, so - if these were well-planned events and not passion moments - what caused the constant drip-drip-drip..... to finally inch into anyone's brain and start warped thinking. And, if it is just that - a drip drip drip --- of small, typical, insignificant oversights, that lead to big omissions, mix in a little alcohol, anti-depressants, medical ill-health - and finally from a little neurotic behavior comes a huge neurosis and then turns into psychosis - break from society's "norm". Personally, I can make at least one over-generalization in most of the above horror scenarios: I believe there was a root cause of dis-respect which was "felt" by the above samples of people - whether or not they were actually disrespected, still hardly should cause such violent responses. But, it is something historically that becomes a sore point for many - Hitler, too - lack of respect and/or lack of identity - can begin the warped cycle mix. It is at this point I must look at my Love, my Lord - Jesus Christ..... who's challenge was not in acting out (behaviour) - but in actual PRIVATE thought! Amazing. He set the standard that you have committed these same acts - all of us - if we had so much as "thought" of it. On this, however, I do not believe that a mind-popping stray idea is a thought - I believe the standard is to actually entertain the thought. In other words, keeping the thought ever-present, or in the background as a real possibility - even a sick, warped "hope" - to wish ill of someone else. God reads our hearts, knows our intents - and definitely records each and every little thought whispered in our soul!
And, I ponder - why is Christ's standard so high? Who can really control one's thoughts perfectly. But, if our evil world and the horrible actions above actually originated with thought - and well-planned thought - then I can understand how God has such concern - for as He said in Genesis and throughout the Bible - all of man's heart is evil - every thought to continually do evil. This broke God's heart - and He said He was sorry he made man!
It is now being scientifically discovered - and measured - that thought truly has vibration and can manifest. If this is truly the case - thoughts, like ripples of water waves, have to end up somewhere. Perhaps, others pick up on the evil vibration thoughts of the world - and decide something on them. That is bad enough - but to be the originator of the thought and to put it out there - would be worse, I would imagine. This is where we all can take some responsibility for the drip-drip-drip dysfunction that sometimes contributes to the above scenarios. Keeping Christ's commandments - of loving kindness to others - even our enemies and to ask God to BLESS - not curse someone who is evil or our enemy....... this is quite a revelation and standard. Truly the love thoughts and the beauty of our Lord also must have to go somewhere and manifest and others "pick up" on it, as well. In actuality, we are all sharing in the responsibility of the crucifiction of Christ - not one of us is without flaw or fault. As our Lord forgives us in this - in order to start anew - we can take on His nature in that we can choose to NOT want evil thought and doing. This is the real test and we will always have a new view in which to judge ourselves only - not others.
Taking responsibility to control one's thoughts is a beautiful beginning that one can begin anew each time second! When people act out as above, truly we can all see how we are all sharing in the hurts, torments, warpdom, --- and almost destined to keep the horror pattern "alive" and vibrating still.... This is the nature of evil. To be strong enough to stop that kind of "wave action" - in Christ is divine - beyond good. May we all share in this as our legacy in kind!
