A mosquito is flying about my computer screen. Right this moment it is sitting on the word “mosquito” in my first sentence. Too bad it can’t read. I think it would be amused if it could. Its head is so tiny yet it obviously contains a brain. When I put my finger close to it, it flees. It most likely thinks it is about to find a warm juicy meal. The truth is I am about to smack it and crush its life. But wait, do I have that right? Is that mosquito part of the circle of life and part of the food chain? While I don’t think I need it by my computer should I not try to catch it and release it outside? However, as I look at it I remember suffering from a horrible case of malaria caused by one of its African cousins. Should I after so many years get revenge on its family? But isn’t that same stupid kind of thinking the cause of so many human conflicts? A hundred years ago your grandfather killed my second cousin so now I have to even the score. However, we never really want to even the score. We want to return the deed with interest. The higher the interest rate the better.
If all Jesus was to this world was to be a philosopher, (He was so much more.) and the world realized the value of “turn the other cheek” and “forgive us as we forgive,” our history books would not be filled with tales from umpteen wars. Jesus was the prince of peace. We just don’t pay attention.
Written by Roger Bothwell on June 30, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org