Paris - What's Mine to Do?

Every time another act of violence happens, I look for what is mine to do in relation to the circumstances.  What can I do to have a positive impact?  Facebook profile pictures with the French flag filter are great, but is there nothing more?  Every time, it comes down to different variations on the same two ideas.  

There but for the grace of God go I:  This phrase was coined by John Bradford back in the 16th century.  He was in prison and would say this (as the story goes) as he watched others get taken away to be executed.  For me, it encourages me to look at those committing the violence in the same “there but for the grace of God go I” light.  If I had all of their experiences instead of my own, I’d likely be doing the same thing.  What must it be like to live a life where such violent acts seem not only acceptable, but the best option?  How much pain, suffering, anger, etc.  must they experience every single day to get to that place?  Can I even begin to fathom what their experience must be like?  This isn’t to justify their acts, far from it.  The point is, if these people are suffering so greatly that they feel such violence is their best option, adding my own hate, anger, or judgment to the mix isn’t helping at all.  What is needed is compassion.  I can have compassion and forgiveness in my experience without justifying behavior.  Bombs and bullets won’t ease their suffering.  Anger and revenge won’t assuage their pain.  Only compassion and forgiveness can do that.  I get that it is easy for me to say, without being at the receiving end of these acts, but regardless, compassion is always possible.  What's mine to do?  Find compassion within myself.

Where am I a terrorist:  That is a harsh question, but hear me out.  As part of the human race, we are connected to what the human race does.  As long as there is violence and terrorism within people, it will express in the world.  So how do I participate?  How do you participate?  Do you judge yourself harshly, call yourself an idiot?  Do you fantasize about how you’re going to tell somebody off?  Where are you violent towards and terrorizing yourself - physically, mentally, emotionally?  How about comparing yourself to others?  Peace on earth will not happen as long as there is other than peace within you.  What’s mine to do?  Look at myself and see where I commit acts of terror against myself, and do my best to change.  

In the end, the only place where you have any authority or ability to make a change is within yourself.  Many very wise people have uttered variations on “change yourself and you change the world.”  So if you want to see less violence in the world, change your response to those who commit the violence.  Find compassion and forgiveness rather than anger, judgement, and a desire for vengeance.  Look within to where you, on a much smaller scale, are a self-terrorist and make the necessary changes to have less violence and more peace within.  I’ve been reminded yet again that I have more work to do in this area.  I am about that work.