Applied Scripture, a safe distance

My son-in-law was working with my granddaughter recently on a memory verse for a Wednesday night activity the church has for those her age group. Since Nate and Cori work with this age group it makes sense that their children would be prepared for reciting the assigned verse. The verse was a small excerpt from 2 Corinthians 13:7 (I think). “Do no evil…” Since evil is a difficult concept for a three year old when applied to actions, he was explaining.


“Evil”, he explained, “is when you do something wrong or naughty like saying ‘No’ to Mommy or Daddy, or taking a toy away from Grant when he is playing with it.” Like all parents in that situation he was not sure if he was getting through. As if to illustrate the point, at that very moment Grant came up to them, grabbed Mykenzie’s toy and ran down the hall to his bedroom. Without hesitation, his older sister ran down the hall after her errant brother shouting, “Grant, do no evil! Do no evil!” Needless to say when it came time to recite the verse, she nailed it.

It seems almost brutally callous to sit here in safety with my home in tact and my pantry full, looking for humor in everyday life while tens of thousands of Japanese families are either displaced or deceased; with those yet still living staring down the very real possibility of being diseased. Though I have often felt myself despairing, without hope, I have never seen myself or anyone I know in that position of unfathomable loss – in life or property.

My opinion may be biased but I believe the Unites States of America to be the most generous country in the world. Those who either hate or envy our prosperity may scorn us in public but they rarely turn away the vast amounts of money given to aid their countries. The Japanese have been tolerant allies of ours for some time and in this hour of need we will help them. It is part of our heritage and culture to do so.

As we watch from a safe distance we need to remember that, “There but for the grace of God go I.” We are walking a dangerous path financially, intellectually and spiritually in this country. The devastation in Japan will not change the culture or mindset of the population. They are proud to be Japanese and this loss will not change their national pride, nor should it. It should, however, give us pause.

Are we proud of the America the world sees as they watch our television programs, or our news broadcasts? Do we reflect the proud heritage of those who came here from all over the world to become Americans? Are we Americans by default rather than by choice? How much free stuff does it take to sear the conscience of a nation into believing that they deserve what has been earned by someone else?

Japan will recover from this disaster. Our prognosis is not quite so clear?