The challenge I issued last week for all of us who watch bad news to give equal time to something inspirational or uplifting was made a bit easier, perhaps, as the whole world has been captivated in recent days with the good news of the rescued miners in Chile. As our family watched the first man emerge to enthusiastic cheers and long embraces, we did not hold back our own tears of relief and joy.
The moment was an epiphany for my seven-year-old grandson who commented, "This is the first time I ever cried from happiness." He identified with the seven-year-old Chilean boy who burst into tears waiting for his father, initially feared dead, who he had not seen for over two months. My grandson shared the emotional pain of a stranger thousands of miles away, putting himself in that other little boy's shoes to realize what it might mean to never be able to see his loved ones again.
As the miners were pulled to safety, one by one, nobody seemed to care that some of them have rather messy personal relationships outside of the mine. In fact, for a few of them, we see conduct which doesn't measure up to the strict moral code which many Christian watchdog groups would like to impose and enforce. In spite of that, thankfully, I haven't heard comments that the mining disaster is God's punishment for anyone; the universal response seems to have been prayers going up on all fronts.
My hope is this is a trend which continues...that we will all view others who are struggling day by day, living in desperation or even with the consequences of poor choices, not as "bad people who deserve whatever they get," but as hurting individuals who need our love, prayers and support.
In light of that, I issue a second challenge this week: To realize those miners are no better and no worse than any of the rest of us. That we should spare no expense, go to every length, to help free others from feeling trapped and hopeless. Let us remove judgment from the equation when we decide who to help, and let's make a decision to love others, unconditionally. If we could accomplish that, in my mind, I imagine Jesus crying tears of happiness, too.
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