The Beauty in the World

All my life I've been in total awe of the beauty of nature. All my life I have been perplexed on why humans are so anxious to destroy it.

All my life I've seen the beauty in other people. All my life I have seen humans destroy what is good in other humans, both physically and mentally.

All my life I've seen the good destroyed by the bad. What little beauty remains in this world is slowly being destroyed.

So, I know I am supposed to be happy and whistle, and I know I'm suppose to kick a few rocks as I make my way to the fishing hole, with my fishing pole over my shoulder. But I am not.

I've read and studied the story of Easter Island. That story, from what can be pieced together, tells about competing lords and how religion created irrationality — even to the point of self destruction. Nothing has changed today — we are simply seeing a repeat on a grander schedule.

Sometimes I see beauty in the form of a little bug crawling across my desk. I stop what I'm doing and grab a magnifying glass. I watch the little creature continue on its way, and I am amazed by it. What makes this little animal be alive? What is it doing? Where is it going? What is its purpose?

I see sunsets that are so beautiful, which explode into an array of beautiful colors. I hear geese "honk" as they fly overhead. When I hear them I run outside and look up to see their "V" formation high in the sky. I am AMAZED. I am truly amazed at these birds flying over my head. It is in them that I see beauty.

I see beauty in the hearts of young children. They are totally innocent and they are put on Earth under so many difficult situations. Suddenly, they are on this planet and they must learn to survive like the rest of us. Their innocence, pureness, and inquisitive all makes them beautiful.

Yet, the children, the geese, and the little bugs are all under assault by this strangely beautiful yet violent and ever growing species called humans. We deceive ourselves, rationalize away all logic, and then we continue destroying that which is beautiful in a hundred million little ways.

Why?

The Goose

Columbine

I remember attending my big church in 1999 shortly after the Columbine massacre. A guest band was performing on stage. The lead singer told us that at the time of the murders they were performing at the National Rifle Association convention in Denver.

The lead singer said that at an NRA prayer breakfast, "They just held each other's hands and prayed for the victims."

Hello, you idiot, CAN'T YOU SEE THE IRONY?

If I had to do it over again I would have stood up and disrupted the service. I would have screamed, "ARE YOU FREAKING NUTS?"

It is the NRA that ensures that guns are easily accessible to any wacko who wants to slaughter people. And they hold prayer breakfasts at their conventions? And they pray for the people that their lobbying efforts help to slaughter???

Let me just say that this is a sick, twisted country -- where a "loving Christ" is so beautifully intertwined with the violence and evil of guns.

It is to the point that when I read about a multiple shooting in the newspaper, I don't even care any more. This is what Americans want! This is what the NRA wants! It is apparently what God wants!

So, let the murders, slaughter, and violence continue as the Sunday worshipers pick the lint off their suits and dresses .... and go to church to learn about the beautiful love of God ... and then come home and clean their weapons. Oh, to feel that smooth, cold, barrel, which can help to fling a slug of lead into a human's flesh at great speed, doing massive damage to human body tissue. Oh, it must be the love of God.