(I wrote this when I was a freshman in college)
Ever since I was younger, I remember getting upset about the things that were not good. Things that Peter Jennings proclaimed on the news. Things at school that my schoolmates talked about. I remember telling people that “shut up” is a BAD WORD and I covered my mouth in astonishment every time someone said it. My parents taught me to love what was good and to hate what wasn’t, but I didn’t know how to respond to what wasn’t.
Now, I’m eighteen years old, walking around a secular college campus. I hear perverse language everywhere I go (which is a reason I frequently listen to my iPod). I see people allowing cigarettes to be a manipulative factor of their life. I hear stories of the binge drinking the night before. I’m completely engulfed in what is not good. Over the years, I’ve somewhat adapted to the things that aren’t good. I’ve learned that I shouldn’t respond to it as I did in my third grade class room. But the hate still burns inside of me.
I was listening to the news one afternoon when my roommate was watching the Insider News on TV. It reminded me of why I don’t listen to the news…ever. I tried to ignore the embarrassing stories of Britney Spears not caring about getting her kids back and how “Greg Brady” got busy with his younger television sister “Jan Brady” on the set of The Brady Bunch. Do they think people actually enjoy listening to that? What does that say about Americans? Do we have any dignity at all? I don’t want my generation to be remembered for Lindsay Lohan or Justin Timberlake.
My version of “God Bless the USA”
Well I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m straight
And just ignore the stupid idiots
Who filibuster from eleven to eight
And I wish we’d stand up
Stop asking Dr. Phil to tell you, “ You’re insane”
Wash your mouth out with Cascade
Dump the booze down the drain
As all of those stories on the news were being announced, God spoke to me.
“Elizabeth, why don’t you love my people?”
All of my hateful thoughts collided into a big explosion of compassion. I started imaging what I would say to Britney Spears if I ever got a chance to sit down with her at Starbucks. What would I do to tell Michael Jackson that he needs Jesus? How can I reveal God’s love to the people sitting around the tables in front of Winslow? In class? On the way there?
These people need help. They need mercy. They need peace. Most importantly, they need compassion. My self-righteousness blinded me to see that I need to reach out to them, not look down on them. I’ve been reading “God's Greatest Passion” by H.L. Hussmann. Every time I sit down to read it, I get the desire to love the ones the world just loves to hate, or who Christians hate for this matter. I was listening to a song by Hillsong United today that screams this concept.
It is not a human right
To stare, not fight
While broken nations dream
Open up our eyes so blind
That we might find
The mercy for the need
Hey, now
Fill our hearts with your compassion
Hey, now
As we hold to our confession
God be the solution
We will be your hands
We’ll be your feet
--"Solution" by Hillsong United
Why can’t Christians learn to hate evil and love the evildoer?
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