Questions

As an American abroad, I get lots of questions regarding how I view various situations or crisis around the world and in the US.  I field questions such as: 'Do you like President Obama?' and 'Did you like President Bush?' or 'Do you agree with what the US is doing in the Middle East?'  One of my favorite questions is 'Why don't Americans like Canadians?'  And I especially like the correlation that most Brazilians make between Chicago and Al Capone.  It usually goes something like this... "Oh, you're from close to Chicago?  That's where Al Capone lived, right!?"

Joking aside, this line of questioning often brings opportunity for me to analyze just how much influence I carry with my passport.  I don't think my opinion matters any more than the next person on the street, so I try to give as much of a biblical response as possible.  That's the influence that I want to have.

Yesterday brought a new question into light.  "How do you feel about Osama bin Laden being found and killed?"  I think my emotions cover the spectrum: joy, happiness, relief, remorse, sorrow, pain.  Ultimately, God brings justice, and in that I rejoice, but I grieve the death of a human life that brought terror upon the earth and harmed so many people.  I know that outside the grace of my God, undeservingly poured upon me, my fate would have been the same as Osama bin Laden.  My sins warranted the same fate--eternal damnation and separation from God.  Only Christ's obedience to the death could save me.  And that's the reality of what separates me from Osama bin Laden.

PS - I appreciated the Holy Scriptures brought to light in this blog.