Lack of empathy; Some revelations brought on by thoughts of Iraq

I hate thinking about Iraq. I despise dwelling on  ISIS. I clear my mind as quickly as I can when I think of what's going down in the Middle East.

Play a game. Hop on my iPhone or iPad. Listen to music. For God's sake tune out of all the garbage brought on by thoughts of atrocity and pure evil!

I cannot let my mind rest on that. I will not let myself be consumed by the dealings of peoples so far removed from myself. What good could it do anyway?

Does everything come down to what we see as good? Is it worth it just for its sake alone? What if I told you I lost one of my children today? That they died! Would you try to quickly move the conversation along? Hurry past the awkwardness of pain, suffering and despair? Never!

I've been fooling myself into thinking I can sympathize with these people without really focusing on their plight. What a hypocrit! What nonsense! I'm ashamed. As I suppose many others might be too.

Pray. I hear that a lot. I see it written a lot as well. But for what? That big, scary men would stop killing other men? For these guys to call it quits on raping women? Perhaps that someone will put down the sword that's about to behead a child and do the right thing? Typing these words alone is difficult for me. How could anyone actually carry out these duties?

And so I prayed. "Make them stop! Put an end to this! Bring these families back together!" It took me awhile to figure out, on a deeper level, that this is not new. The headlines are different, but the sky is still as sickening as it has been since Cain slew Able.

In no way, shape or form am I trying to downplay the madness or inconceivable brutality that's  taking place over there. Hang with me for just a minute.

There is a very real threat lurking just minutes from my home. A girl being sold into sex-slavery. A man physically and emotionally laying waste to his wife. Children starving. Homeless cold and alone.  Shame and poverty slithering its way through the streets of my town.


And you tell me to pray?


First, it would require me to stop. I don't have time for that. There's dishes to be done, bedtime routines, personal accomplishments to savor.



Secondly, I'd have to wrap my brain around what it is that's 'bothering me enough' to pray about. Who are these people? What are they being put through? Who are the aggressors? Where are the good people that should be putting an end to this? The list would move on and on.



Then it would move into the realm of sympathizing. How do I feel about this? What would I do if in this situation? How can I possibly be of any use?


(At this point I'd be rendered practically speechless, on my knees, crying. Shouting out with tears.)

To take into consideration the truth of the matter, regardless of circumstances, the foundation is the
same as even before Cain slew Able! God is good. His will is good.


*My head hurts. My heart pounds. I don't want to think about that right now! Don't you see the severity of my cause of prayer? How is it that I can even think about good right now? No! I won't. I must fight and toil against allowing myself to dwell on Him and His blessed assurance. These people need to know I ache for them.*


Or is it, really, that my life is so 'good' that I need to torture myself with depressing issues to escape the pressures of everyday life? Because I know I'm not met with these obstacles myself.


I'm ashamed. I've finally let the cat out of the bag. I don't deal with these things on a personal basis. I wouldn't want to. So why stop to think about it? Unless I'm ashamed it's not me, but someone else? Would I, could I, switch places with some of these so that they wouldn't have to endure such gut-wrenching tribulation? I say I would. I feel like I could. But... Truly?

I wrestle with this as a result of prayer. I've not just read another article to feel intelligent and 'informed'. To persevere through horrendous thoughts and obtain a place of surrender to my own selfishness and desires, I can claim truth to this just as much as the next.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a place before me, in the presence of thine enemies. My cup runners over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever.

What sweet goodness. Oh, that I might be with Him! My wish, no. My prayer. For everyone.

You see, when I start to identify with those who are in conflict. Trudging through trials. I'm reminded of God's goodness. And as I think of His goodness, I'm bound to remember His grace. And if His grace abounds, then surely there is evil, a sickness. He sent His son to swallow it up. There is power in that resurrection! Life in His blood! That bloodshed is so good... For all.


Jesus gave very specific instructions on how we are to pray. He demonstrated it for us. Loathing and
self-pity had no place in that prayer. Disguised gossip and bashing of another had no place in that prayer. Self-worship and idolizing had no place there either. Forgiveness and the divine power of God were evident in that prayer. Pleasing the Father with few words was a key aspect of that prayer. Simple. Peaceful. Understanding.

So is prayer any good? Ah, if we could find more time for it.


Romans 8:35-37

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

I challenge you to pray. Get before the Almighty and off the throne of self. Pray for the persecution of the church, those in Iraq and even the ones in our homeland. Yes, pray.