If Jesus Was on the Bus
I don't think I need to introduce this topic do I? We all know by now the horrific events that transpired on that bus in Manitoba last week. The question that keeps running through my mind is what if Jesus was on that bus? What would Jesus do? You remember the story of the Good Samaritan who stopped to help a victim beaten by the side of the road when no one else would. Where were those Samaritans on that bus? Where was God? If God was on that bus he would have helped. Yes I feel the passengers, should have done something. If you believe in God you believe it's your duty to help others, even at the risk of your own life. The exact cliche/quote is "greater love hath no man...etc. You give your own life to save another person. God rewards you in Heaven for that. I believe that, I have to. Otherwise there's no point to life at all.
There's a lot of emotion going around right now about this incident. One comment I read said something about "welcome to the world where 98% of people only care about themselves." Gee, wouldn't I like to have been on the Titanic with these folks! But you see this is not new thinking. In fact if you read the history books, there were very few people who helped others during the sinking of that ill-fated ocean liner. If there had been more "Samaritans" on board, helping others get to those few boats, more people would have survived the sinking and we all know that c'mon! This was in 1912. I guess the world hasn't changed, just our perception of it.
So on the premise that faithful people would try and do what Jesus would do, I would have to say that if I had been on the bus I would have tried to help. Get the guy off the victim, even if he came for me. Common sense is he's one guy with a knife, and there's two of you say, you and the victim. I don't see how he could kill us both at the same time. Perhaps also if one person came forward, others would also be motivated to step in. The more people you have then of course the guy is going down, he can't get us all. Is it that "mob rules" only works if you are in the bad mob? Can't a mob of good people develop to stop an evil act?
This whole thing makes me quite angry. I thought these kind of things happen in countries like Afghanistan or Sudan. To have this happen in Canada on our blessed prairies is a real shocker.
People say " oh well you say this and that but you weren't there, you're safe at home saying you'd do something but what if you really were in a situation like that?" Well to those people I say just try me. I have been in some scary situations and I've reacted to protect myself and If you get on a bus with me you can be damn certain that I would help you. And if this was my child killed in this manner I would hnt the guy down myself and make him pay because let's face it, the Canadian government isn't going to do anything to him. Even if Li is found fit to stand trial and found guilty, he'll eventually be "rehabilitated" and set free in a shorter time than you think. Now you might think that's in conflict with my faith. Well I guess God will judge me too.
Another thing I keep thinking about is were there any children on the bus? Well of course it should always be women and children first. But someone could be getting them off while I help. Would it not be better for the children to walk away knowing that someone tried to help? I think it would be more traumatic for them knowing no one helped.
So what's the bottom line here? The worst part of it for me and I'm sure for the victim's family is not knowing why the attacker did this thing. My friend Ron Oswald was murdered not far from here and the same question haunts me about his death. Why did they do it? Does knowing the reason help the pain go away? Maybe not. But it helps us to understand the perpetrators. Perhaps if they turn out to be disturbed, we can have some sympathy for them. It's unavoidable that knowing the reasons for these acts changes how we judge them but it does not change the fact that we do judge them. Understanding makes it possible for us to heal and perhaps for us to take some action that will prevent these kind of things happening in the first place.
If Jesus were on the bus he would've done something and believing this I know that I would have to have done something too.
I'm almost done, hold on. There's another issue here as well. The police are getting it in the neck lately because they are only trying to do what I say I would do. The guy with the knife who won't put it down when the police ask him too, well they have to shoot him or tazer him. Well the tazer could kill but what if it saves someone elses life? My friend who is ex military says if you point a gun at someone you aim to kill. I don't think that's necessary. Just incapacitate. You don't know what effect a tazer is going to have on an individual so the chance of it being fatal is certainly there. I'd rather they shoot me in the leg and put me out of commission temporarily than kill me. The police should be good enough marksmen that they can aim to take you down without killing you. Obviously gun takes knife as long as the knife is not close enough to stop you from shooting. Unless a guy can throw a knife with accuracy, chances are if you shoot him in the arm or leg he is not going to get you. The assumption of criminals who carry a knife I think is that your victim is not armed. At least you hope not. But we all know what "assume" does.
Well it feels good just to get that all off my mind. I do want to say in closing that my heart and prayers go out to the young man's family in their time of need. I hope God can bless them and give them the strength to get through their ordeal. My prayers are also with Mr. Li's family because it's going to be hell for them too, living with what he did and because having some sympathy (for the Devil)well, that's just what Jesus would do.
