Another shooting. Another senseless tragedy. Another personality self-destructs into eternal nothingness, going out in a blaze of glory, leaving their mark - a new low for humanity.
What level of abject despair could drive an individual to commit such a horrific act? At what dead end of existence, and to what level of hopelessness must people find themselves in order to justify these despicable deeds? And indeed they do justify them, for in a strange and twisted way they see themselves as the real victims, their savage acts of revenge are not so much upon those unfortunate enough to be in their way, but upon the entire human race. Their rage extends across the cosmos and even upon the God of such a universe that could allow such a cruel fate to befall them. These are the cosmically insane, rebelling against the ultimate reality of love with acts of unspeakable violence.
I believe that life in this age of extreme materialistic tendency contributes to the frequency of these tragic events. We are living in an amazing time. Every year brings a new wonder: faster computers, better sound, and bigger toys. So much STUFF. Is it any wonder that so many overlook the truth of the Spirit and focus instead on the tangible things with which they can fill their meaningless lives? And then, when their lives are so full of THINGS, that they can not fit even another do they find their lives still empty and devoid of any real joy. And so do they lash out at the society which created them, and made them what they are.
But the true tragedy is that we are all so close to that place of peace which we are seeking. True peace lies so close, yet so many live out their lives searching everywhere for the tranquility, which, even, now, lives within them. Men and women die of thirst when the living water is within reach in the last place where they unfortunately think to look. It is not at Wall Mart. It is not at Target. It is not at Home Depot, at the BMW dealer or hidden under the foil coating of a lottery ticket. It is not even inside a church. It is within you, within all of us. It is theKingdomofHeaven.
The Kingdom of Heavenis not a place. It is a state of mind. It is the love of everyone in the world, of every being in the universe. It is trust, forgiveness and tolerance. The Kingdom of Heaven allows for all religions, for in the Kingdom, all are the sons and daughters of the same God of a universe. The Kingdom of Heaven is recognizing the good in everyone you meet. It is a place of rest, even in the midst of this crazy materialistic age. The Kingdom is safety, security and a peace that defies all understanding.
The Kingdom of Heavenis within you.