Life

Acts 9:36-43

Very soon we will be only 24 hours removed from the tragedy in Boston, Massachusetts. At last count the 2 explosions close to the finish line of the world-renown Boston Marathon have injured at least 176 people, 3 of which have died. The last 24 hours have been filled with questions, to which we don't have answers - not yet.

The last 24 hours have also been filled with acts of heroism, selflessness, thoughtfulness, and self-sacrifice. We've seen people from around the world come together regardless of ethnicity, age, gender identification, socio-economic standing, or abilities. In the last 24-hours, at least in one small corner of the world, people put aside their differences to find a way to better the life of someone else.

I heard it said that whoever might be responsible for this act of terrorism chose what may be the worst choice for such an act. In that place, at that time, people from around the world were gathered by the 10's of thousands to cheer one another on as they accomplished what is most definitely a difficult athletic endeavor. Gathered in that place were Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Jew, and much more. Gathered in that place were American, Asian, African, European, Middle Eastern, Latin, and so much more. Gathered as one people were male, female, gay, straight, and many others. In that place people were gathered for one reason; to be united under one ideal - to recognize hard work and the successes of the human spirit.

When people are united in such a way it's impossible to break their spirit. Yes, for a moment people may be fearful or uncertain of what's going to happen next, but for the most part those feelings subside as the urgency, rather the need to help their fellow humans takes over. It's what we do as people who believe in good triumphing over evil.

In our passage, Peter traveled to a nearby town to bring back to life a woman who was loved by many. In Boston, people are coming together to bring life back to a city they love. In America people are coming together to bring life back to a country we love. In the world people are coming together to bring life to a world we love.

There are times when the coming together of people is given pause due to acts of evil, but when we come together and are united as a people who stand for justice and peace, no evil can keep us paused for long.