Be not a walking bomb
We have probably heard enough of people destroying themselves to get at others; and the logic of dying for the cause seems incomprehensible.
We agreed that we wouldn’t know what it was really like to live as a citizen in Iraq. That is, to face the prospect of encountering a suicide bomber at any time we ventured into a shopping centre, or some public arena full of people.
From our perspective, we found it difficult to follow any logic that encouraged a person to blow himself or herself up in the name of any cause, or in an attempt to kill or maim others.
In our mate’s shed, there was an air of solemnity as we pondered and chatted about the issue. We certainly felt confronted by the fact that, in some countries, life is cheap and the incidence of abuse is high. It is difficult to argue the value of human life with people who do not value their own lives. Hostage negotiations can prove most difficult.
We have probably heard enough of people destroying themselves to get at others; and the logic of dying for the cause seems incomprehensible. However, we don’t have to look too far to find people committed to winning at all costs, even to the point of hurting themselves to inflict pain on or injury to others. In a sense, they are wiring themselves with emotional bombs. Ultimate consequences seem far from their minds.
It is really about attitude. And we are all products of our learning. Past experiences and training play their part. Positive and negative – or hurtful – experiences combine to develop the people we become.
I was becoming carried away with my own logic when Gus brought me back to earth and asked me about the last time I weighed myself. Now, from where I stand, I’m not fat, but I am a bit fatter than I would like to be.
If I were a little more disciplined about my diet, I could probably solve that. But, I felt a little injured by Gus’s question. “And when was the last time you had a thorough medical to check the status of your own health,” I fired back, “particularly as you know something of your family’s health history?”
It was a comment I shouldn’t have made. The truth is that we all could be indulgent walking bombs of one kind or another. Some health or wellbeing blowout could bring pain or loss to those we least wish to hurt.
As we chatted in the shed, even Ted and Mick agreed it is really about self-respect. We decided that the biblical love of self is a necessary ingredient if one is to love one’s neighbour appropriately.
Perhaps some of this was in St Paul’s thinking when he described the body as a temple. Not something to be set aside as a shrine that is rarely visited, but lived in, respected and enjoyed. This applies to body mind and spirit.
A sergeant said yesterday: “We aren’t here for a long time, so let’s make it a good time.” To do that, we need to look after each other, and ourselves.
Let none of us become some type of illogical walking suicide bomb.
