Still Not Easy

Ratko Mladic (there has to be a clue in his name?) is finally in dock in the war crimes court in The Hague, for atrocities to humankind, genocide, and murder of unarmed civilians, including women and children. Thousands of them! I can't get my head around what makes a man (or woman for that matter) hate so much, that he can justify it in his heart. The people who were killed were Muslim. He is 'Christian'. Ouch!! Take note when you watch the trial on TV. This is the story of a religious divide, and a sectarian war they are talking about. The festering hatred between ordinary men and women erupted into war of the kind which defies reason.

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matt 5:44 (KJV)

I have neither excuse nor reason. I know the verse which tells me to turn the other cheek when abused too, but 'Rat'-ko? Surely he is in a different class? These verses don't apply here do they? Whether we like it or not, these are the words of Jesus, and we know He understood what He was talking about. After all, He suffered unspeakable torture too, and for us. But this time we are talking about a ruthless, arrogant man who thought nothing of the blood that was on his hands when the atrocities were being perpetrated in his name, and under his command. Because of my human weakness in judging this man, I also like the way Paul puts it when he says: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”. Romans 12:18 (KJV). I think Paul must have known how we must feel on a human level, especially about things like this, and people like Ratko Mladic.

No, it is not easy to forgive. As the old proverb says, “To err is human, but to forgive is Divine”. Wise words. May God grant us (me) the strength to be able to forgive, and not to look for the worst in people. Paul completes his words in the verse above like this: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”. Romans 12:19 (KJV).

Ok, Lord, I'll try, but it's still not easy!