I guess that is where I am right now. This news of what happened in Florida is both tragic and demoralizing. I don't understand that kind of hate. I just don't understand why someone would do that. What makes this even more inconceivable is the timing. For some reason these extremist wackos think that Ramadan, their holy month, is the best time to pull off these mass murders. I want to make it clear. I am not talking about Muslims in general, I am just talking about the nut jobs who decide it is part of their religious beliefs to go and kill people. I just don't understand the mindset that is at work here.
It seems clear that the guy who did this is an Isis sympathizer, and we have investigated him for connections to terrorism in the past. ISIS is pure evil. They seem to have lost all ability to love or feel compassion. These are the monsters that hurl gays off of buildings and have committed genocidal acts against the Yazidis a peaceful religious minority in Iraq and against the Christian minority as well. The have saved some of the woman so they could sell them into sexual slavery, all the time killing Muslims that they feel are not Muslim enough. Last year they even killed a young Muslim boy because he ate during the day when he was supposed to be fasting. If I was held to that standard, I would have been killed when I was a young boy as well.
With ISIS in the world, hate really is strong and does indeed mock the song of peace on earth and goodwill to men. Fortunately the song does not end there. I need to remember this next part. "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail and the right prevail with peace on Earth, good will to men."
In times of distress and evil, it is easy to lose our way and lose hope, but we must have hope. Hope motivates us, and love can animate us. If we despair and retreat, we do no one any good. If we radiate love and hope and show love to as many as we can, we can do some good. The only way to fight despair is with hope. The only way to fight hate is with love. The only way to fight evil is with good. The only way to fight chaos is with peace.
So in this time of evil and despair, let's do what we can. Let's share a bit of love, kindness, gladness, hope, compassion and generosity.
Let's also offer up prayers for the victims of this heinous attack, that they might find peace, and a prayer for their family members, that they might find comfort. We should also offer a prayer, and this will be the hard one, for those that sympathize with this attack, that their hearts might be softened and that they may turn away from hate and towards love. We should also offer a prayer for those who are fighting against terrorism and who are trying to restore order.
May we all be filled with love on this Sabbath evening.