Jesus and the Fence in Laramie

Deaths in the public arena have always catapulted people into the spotlight in a very negative way. People often wonder why it has happened. Whether it was Jesus in Jerusalem, Matthew Shepherd in Laramie, The recent increase of LGBT hate crimes in New York, Lynchings of African Americans  in the Southern states in the 1960's,  all have a common feeling that comes from these incidents.Through all of these ordeals, emotions are a major driver. The three main discussions that are involved in this subject are fear, suffering, and most importantly, love.

Fear is the driving element that causes us to do things we often regret. One of these is Fear of the "other", fear that the other is not entitled to the same place in society that you already inhabit. People often say fear controls action. It is a very good point to remember. How many corporations profit off of our fear? How many organizations get huge chunks of money because you fear this other. More than one killer has got off because they supposedly felt threatened by a hoodie, by the supposed advances of a gay man (HINT:  JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A HETEROSEXUAL MALE, EVERY HOMOSEXUAL MALE DOES NOT WANT YOU)

Fear is also experienced on the part of people being "targeted"/"profiled". This fear has caused more than one LGBT person act different out in public because they were scared of the actions of others. Whether it would be because they carry a pocketbook, or wear workboots instead of heels.

Through our fear and our actions because of our fear, we cause some suffering not only on ourselves but others. When we fear, we worry, when we worry we end up with hypertension ( or other problems) .When we worry more about ourselves, we don't love others and that protection instinct causes us to hurt others(a good bit of the Suffering in the world). The only way to conquer all of these emotions is LOVE

Love is important to any of these discussions on anything involving Christianity. Love is our driving force, not fear. Love is also the thing which helps us to stand our suffering. Love is what God commanded us to do, and reiterated through Jesus. I am reminded of these words from Alice Walker in " Love is Not Concerned" :

 Love is not concerned

with whom you pray

or where you slept

the night you ran away

from home.

Love is concerned

that the beating of your heart

should kill no one.

Matthew Shepherd