| A friend told me recently about his sketchy termination from a big company. Feeling unjustly treated, he considered contesting the dismissal. But given the size of the company, the depth of their legal counsel, and the fact that this was his first time being fired, but likely not their first firing, he reluctantly backed away.
Can you relate to that sense of powerlessness in the face of an overwhelming adversary? Ever got an unfair traffic ticket? Ever been denied by your insurance? Even as a white, American male in 2020, I’ve felt the sting of power wielded against me. Whether just or not, the pain is real. Watching Iraqis storm the US embassy in Bagdad this week and soon Iranians rallying to show their hatred for America, I wonder if that dynamic is at work? Without justifying or denouncing any particular military action or response, I wonder how a normal Muslim in the suburbs of Bagdad or Tehran might feel about the U.S. Do they experience fear, anger and a sense of injustice at a seemingly omnipotent adversary? Is it even possible for you and me to begin to feel what they feel? My example of getting fired by an over-zealous boss pales in comparison to airstrikes, sanctions and oppressive governments. So what can we do? We can try to empathize. We can try to see life through the eyes of an average Iraqi mom, an Iranian high schooler, a soldier drafted against his will who’d like nothing more than to go home to his parents’ farm. And we can pray. Especially if you’re an American, pray that we’d wield our power wisely. We bear an immense sword. Pray for those caught the coming cross-fire. I feel little grief for General Soleimani. He chose the soldier’s path and was not ignorant of his likely demise. But for the multiplied millions whose lives got more precarious today, I feel for them. God does so more. |