“Violence in Kenya has resulted in thirteen deaths. This is the first attack since the power sharing agreement was agreed last week. This incident is believed to have stemmed from a land dispute. All Africa reports that some of the victims were burned alive, while others were decapitated or shot.”
-Wikinews.com
Ever since I saw the movie Blood Diamond, I cannot get the awful images out of my head whenever I read a headline like this. Six of those people were said to have been children. Yeah, children. Burned alive.
A few years ago, that image wouldn’t have even registered with me. I lacked natural empathy. When the events of September 11 happened, I felt nothing. People around me were crying. I went about my day as though nothing significant had happened. I never would have used these words then, but I felt like I had no soul.
So I find it rather interesting that after leaving the bubble of Christianity kicking and screaming, I suddenly begin to cry when I see the twin towers collapsing in my head. When I picture the holocaust. When I picture children burning alive. When I picture a mother whose child has just been shot before her very eyes. When natural instinct takes over and we see things we consider despicable and “inhuman.”
I do not want to make too many generalizations about Christianity’s role in feelings of empathy. There are plenty of Christians that are capable of such feelings. But I think for me (at least right now), the “love of God” would only be a hindrance in bringing out these feelings. That has proved to be the case over the past couple of months. It’s funny. I don’t even feel like the same person anymore.
I only wish these tears could do more for the world than just moisten the ground beneath my feet.
