There's A Fly In My Primordial Soup

I read this week where they are remaking the book and film "Lord of the Flies" with an all female cast. As one would expect, this has not gone without controversy. First, many are upset with Hollywood that a script for an all female cast is being written by two men. OK, I can see that. Second, many women are upset at being presented as becoming so vicious and violent. They counter that women would not behave that way. They would separate into natural groups and exist peacefully. My wife is still laughing at that one.

So let's start with the assumption that there would be tension, even violence, with the caveat that it may manifest in different ways that men would exhibit. That would still prove William Golding's original premise correct. Without control, people will fall to their basest instinct. This would be true for men or women, black or white, red or yellow, or any other groupings that can be considered. In essence, if you're human and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap, Clap)

This is the Bible's premise as well. All are broken, and have been since the fall of Adam. I speak a lot about God's love, and His forgiveness and grace. My favorite verse is from Isaiah 61:1, and quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19. "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted." But for there to be healing, there must first be something broken. And we are, all of us. Even after He puts his new heart within us, we will sometimes slip and fall short of His goals. No one has ever achieved His perfection. And yet we seem to see perfection in ourselves, and notice the shortfalls in others. Remember the verse about the mote in the eye? (Matt 7:3)

I'm seeing much more groupings of hatred than I ever remember before. It's not that these didn't exist, but I think the barriers, the CONTROL, that held them back is no longer as strong, and the hate has become bolder. To stand against this, and we must stand, we cannot allow ourselves to fall into the same pattern of hate. That only creates more. An eye for an eye only causes two people to be blind. So how do we fight hate with love, if all of us are on the same broken playing field?

The love we need only God can provide. Only He loves not because of what we have done, but because of Whose children we are. Only His love can be greater than hate, His light greater than darkness. To find it means to empty ourselves of pride and bigotry, and to think of people, not groups. Individuals, not generalizations. Love each person as God loves you, quirks, faults, and all. (And I mean YOUR quirks, faults, and all. I of course am faultless.) See how easy it is to forget. 😃

Next time someone or something causes hate (not necessarily anger, there is a difference) to rise in you, make sure to step back and breathe. Pray. Ask how God would want you to approach it. Listen to what HE says. Take that fly out of your soup, and Go with God.