Random odd thought
So I turned on the radio this morning, and of course, they are talking about Iraq, todays story being the abduction of Kim Sun-il. They played an audio excerpt of the video, where he pleads in Korean and English for his life.
Now, I can't say how I'd react in such a horrible situation, and God willing, I will never have to find out, but it all got me to thinking. (Dangerous, I know.)
Anyway, I was thinking that I hope that if I were to find myself in such a situation, that I wouldn't conduct myself in such a manner. Being a Christian, I have nothing to fear from death. I can't say that the thought of dying is especially pleasant, but it's not something that fills my heart with terror. It will happen one day one way or another. And if they want to behead me, they can do that. Strangely enough, it would give me a certain pleasure, being that's the way (though with the guillotine) that the members of the White Rose died. No method of torture or death that they can think up of is particularly original, and hasn't already been done countless times before. Nor will this be the last use of such measures. Yes, it's excruciating. However, the photo op that the terrorists are looking for are these people screaming and begging for their lives. What sort of pleasure would they get with somebody who was extremely calm, somebody who was praying, somebody who said outright that their death wasn't any "big deal"? Somehow I don't think that that's the picture the terrorists want.
After reading things such as the goodbye letters of the members of the White Rose and such, as well as things like "The Gift of Peace" (which I wrote about a couple days ago), and 4 Maccabbees, I guess I was forming a picture of that sort of attitude being "typical". This audio tape, that I heard, brought back the reality that it isn't, even for somebody described as a "devout" Christian.
Forgive me for not giving you an exact account, as I don't have the books here with me, but as I recall it, in talking to his lawyer shortly before he was beheaded, Alexander Schmorell told him that even if he had the chance to exchange places with someone, say a prison guard, for example (and we all know how loved prison guards are known for being) he wouldn't do it, because he had done what he had to do, and he could be calm in the certainty that this was not the end, and that were he to be saved, he wouldn't even quite know what to do, for he was quite certain that he had already fulfilled the purpose of his life. And you know what? He lives on!
Also, here's a link to an essay by Fr. Alexander Schmemann, talking about death. Strangely enough, when one types "death where is thy sting" into Google, it's Fr. Schmemann's writings which come up. :)
If my life were important, I'd ask "Will I live or die?"
Now, I can't say how I'd react in such a horrible situation, and God willing, I will never have to find out, but it all got me to thinking. (Dangerous, I know.)
Anyway, I was thinking that I hope that if I were to find myself in such a situation, that I wouldn't conduct myself in such a manner. Being a Christian, I have nothing to fear from death. I can't say that the thought of dying is especially pleasant, but it's not something that fills my heart with terror. It will happen one day one way or another. And if they want to behead me, they can do that. Strangely enough, it would give me a certain pleasure, being that's the way (though with the guillotine) that the members of the White Rose died. No method of torture or death that they can think up of is particularly original, and hasn't already been done countless times before. Nor will this be the last use of such measures. Yes, it's excruciating. However, the photo op that the terrorists are looking for are these people screaming and begging for their lives. What sort of pleasure would they get with somebody who was extremely calm, somebody who was praying, somebody who said outright that their death wasn't any "big deal"? Somehow I don't think that that's the picture the terrorists want.
After reading things such as the goodbye letters of the members of the White Rose and such, as well as things like "The Gift of Peace" (which I wrote about a couple days ago), and 4 Maccabbees, I guess I was forming a picture of that sort of attitude being "typical". This audio tape, that I heard, brought back the reality that it isn't, even for somebody described as a "devout" Christian.
Forgive me for not giving you an exact account, as I don't have the books here with me, but as I recall it, in talking to his lawyer shortly before he was beheaded, Alexander Schmorell told him that even if he had the chance to exchange places with someone, say a prison guard, for example (and we all know how loved prison guards are known for being) he wouldn't do it, because he had done what he had to do, and he could be calm in the certainty that this was not the end, and that were he to be saved, he wouldn't even quite know what to do, for he was quite certain that he had already fulfilled the purpose of his life. And you know what? He lives on!
Also, here's a link to an essay by Fr. Alexander Schmemann, talking about death. Strangely enough, when one types "death where is thy sting" into Google, it's Fr. Schmemann's writings which come up. :)
If my life were important, I'd ask "Will I live or die?"