Visiting 6 countries in 21 days leaves you with a mind full of memories. Gliding on the moonlit waters of the Blue Danube, the visual beauty of church sanctuaries in Vienna, walking the winding, narrow streets of Regensburg before enjoying the 'best wurst' I have had in a long time, the wonder of a rock forest with monasteries perched on high peaks in Meteora, the wonder of ancient faith preserved inside Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
One memory lingers with the power to disturb my thoughts and stir my soul. It is the "Shoes of Silence" I saw on the Pest side of Budapest. On the Promenade beside the Blue Danube River is a memorial for victims of the Holocaust. As World War II was ending and defeat was near Jewish people of all ages were lined up along the banks of the Danube. Shoes were a valuable item and so they were forced to remove them before being shot to death. The bodies fell into the chill waters and the shoes were gathered up.
The memorial is composed of 60 pairs of bronze shoes, a grim reminder of humanity at our worst. Tourist cameras flash and the bus moves on. It would be easy to overlook this memorial with all of the awesome architecture in Budapest. One young man has blogged "maybe if you were older it would mean more but I don't think it is much to see."
Having stood in the furnace room at Dachau in 2010...watching news video of Syrians being shot by their own government...living in a world of tragedy created by IEDs and soulless Drones I can not escape the shoes. It matters every time the innocent die! It wounds the collective soul of humanity every time we turn another person or people into the 'other' and find freedom to violently end their lives.
I was reminded of the old saying about 'walking a mile in their shoes.' Before we decide there is not 'much to see' in the violent moments of life perhaps we can learn from the 'shoes of silence.' Injustice, by whoever and whenever, needs to be challenged and not forgotten. Unlike the young blogger I think those shoes are important to see!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
"In Vain"
I don't know if they were religious men, church attenders, or simply reenacting what you see at most sporting events in America. But I believe at least one of the four men broke a biblical commandment: "No using the name of GOD, your God, in curses or silly banter; GOD won't put up with the irreverent use of his name." (The Message). I believe the commandment is about so much more than not cursing using "God" or "Jesus Christ." I also think the emphasis on the notion that God is our 'buddy' has diminished our sense of awe and humility before invoking the name of God.
I was sitting at a Colts game with my grandson wanting nothing more than to enjoy our time together free from the worries of the world. Then four guys, beer drinking buddies who already had had too much to drink, sat down to our left. Beneath us sat two women. I could not hear what was being said over the rail. I did notice they were giving as much attention to the women as the game. Suddenly the two women stood up, glared up at the men, and marched up the three short steps to our level. Before they walked away one of the women really verbally let the guys have it.
An usher quickly came over and asked the guys what happened. They pleaded innocence, having no idea what set the woman off. Then came the moment that set me off. The guy closest to us lifted his head, looked skyward, raised his arm, with finger pointed up said "Thank you, Jesus."
You see it was all about the lifestyle, or at least the perceived lifestyle, of the two women that got the men's attention. Whether they were threatened by their presence or found 'it' wrong or were simply drunk (no excuse in my eyes) they were intolerant and bigoted in their behavior. God has no blessing for such behavior and the guy was religiously careless in thanking Jesus that the women left.
While the usher was willing to let it pass as the actions of a 'hot-headed' woman and took the guys word I could not let it pass. I made a point of speaking directly to the usher about what I had seen. The men were asked to leave.
I found no joy in all of this, only sadness. My heart beat a little faster when I stood to at least present another side to the event. Part of the happiness of the night was lost. My grandson talked with me after the game as we walked to the car about what he had seen and heard. Intolerance and carelessness with invoking the name of God are far too common. Individuals, causes, politicians, and nations often link the name of God with their behaviors, even when such behavior is an insult to the nature of God. It was a reminder to me to pay more attention to how I use God's name. It is simply too easy to take "God's name in vain."
I was sitting at a Colts game with my grandson wanting nothing more than to enjoy our time together free from the worries of the world. Then four guys, beer drinking buddies who already had had too much to drink, sat down to our left. Beneath us sat two women. I could not hear what was being said over the rail. I did notice they were giving as much attention to the women as the game. Suddenly the two women stood up, glared up at the men, and marched up the three short steps to our level. Before they walked away one of the women really verbally let the guys have it.
An usher quickly came over and asked the guys what happened. They pleaded innocence, having no idea what set the woman off. Then came the moment that set me off. The guy closest to us lifted his head, looked skyward, raised his arm, with finger pointed up said "Thank you, Jesus."
You see it was all about the lifestyle, or at least the perceived lifestyle, of the two women that got the men's attention. Whether they were threatened by their presence or found 'it' wrong or were simply drunk (no excuse in my eyes) they were intolerant and bigoted in their behavior. God has no blessing for such behavior and the guy was religiously careless in thanking Jesus that the women left.
While the usher was willing to let it pass as the actions of a 'hot-headed' woman and took the guys word I could not let it pass. I made a point of speaking directly to the usher about what I had seen. The men were asked to leave.
I found no joy in all of this, only sadness. My heart beat a little faster when I stood to at least present another side to the event. Part of the happiness of the night was lost. My grandson talked with me after the game as we walked to the car about what he had seen and heard. Intolerance and carelessness with invoking the name of God are far too common. Individuals, causes, politicians, and nations often link the name of God with their behaviors, even when such behavior is an insult to the nature of God. It was a reminder to me to pay more attention to how I use God's name. It is simply too easy to take "God's name in vain."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)