[picapp align=”left” wrap=”false” link=”term=valentine%27s+day&iid=295206″ src=”0291/675747ff-d503-49a6-9b90-c84adf67eecf.jpg?adImageId=10072796&imageId=295206″ width=”234″ height=”353″ /]”There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”–Jesus (John 15:13)
Unable to view? Visit http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid14354335001?bctid=6546331001
[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=roman+ruins&iid=5241131″ src=”9/9/6/2/Medusa_Frieze_of_8a8f.jpg?adImageId=9333545&imageId=5241131″ width=”500″ height=”333″ /]
I’m sitting in a pint-sized public library in a pint-sized Minnesota town. My car is in the shop across the street getting a front end fix. With no wheels, I’m stuck in small town mid-America.
Perusing the pinted-sized library’s pint-sized religion section, one book caught my eye. It was right next to The Bible (which looks rather odd with Dewey decimal numbers on its spine) and is entitled The Bible, but it isn’t the Bible but is a book about the Bible by Karen Armstrong.
I opened to the middle to see what it might hold…a chapter on Lectio Divina–should keep me happy for a while, I mused. So, I grabbed the only comfy chair I could find, which cozied my knees up to a scantily clad magazine section, and opened ‘er up.
The first words of said chapter elucidate how the Roman Empire, a pillar of rationality and order, fell to the “chaos of sensation” brought about by plundering barbarians (early 5th century). Passions overran reasoning powers and Rome fell…
At that moment, Eric Clapton’s “Cocaine” pounded through the walls of the library. This weensy library is tucked in the middle of a strip mall, so common walls flank both sides and tenants undoubtedly reside overhead. All library visitors (including a class of preschoolers) had no choice but to listen to Clapton croon such gems as: “When your day is done and you wanna run…cocaine.”
All of a sudden the words on the page were connecting with my experience. Reflecting ancient Rome, this orderly, stable, safe (albeit pint-sized) library of an orderly, stable, relatively safe small town was suddenly flooded with an unsolicited message of sensuality and despair. Without warning we were all at the mercy of “barbaric” lyrics smoothly professing chaos, destruction and death…a psychic pillaging took place and, short of plugging our ears, there was nothing we could do to stop it.
Thankfully, we only endured “Cocaine” once and were not “caressed” by any other neighborly melodies. But, all one needs to do is venture anywhere else or simply access a media source to realize that psychic pillaging is everywhere present. Like ancient Rome, the destruction begins within, manifests without and then is open to barbarians…something we may not realize it until it is too late. Moral boundaries are weak, sensuality and passions in the name of personal freedom rank higher than what brings life to others, than what promotes the common good. Such short-sighted, self-centered, self-destructive living makes us vulnerable to chaos, destruction and death. Don’t believe it? Look around…still can’t see? Then just wait…
May God have mercy…may we see what we’re doing and turn around. May that which destroys be seen for what it is…May God get a hearing and soon…May we choose Him and find a better way…Oh God, have mercy…
Looking for God 