The Journey 127

Read: 1 Samuel 19

Fox News and New York Times reported  last Friday an incident that went off board from the cause for which it was called for. National High School Journalism Conference  organized a conference on Anti Bullying in Seattle and the speaker invited was Dan Savage, who is a spokesperson and an advocate for anti bullying. But in a twist of irony, he is now accused of using that platform to hurt and make rude and bullying remarks on high school students who were Christians. He blamed and accused the Christian students with regards to the way they practiced their faith and slowly started using sarcastic remarks against Christian faith practices and the Bible. Offended by the way the speaker manipulated the platform that was given, and because he was not willing to respect the faith practices of others, a few Christian students boldly stood up and silently started walking out of the hall as the speech was going on. When Savage saw this silent protest,  he got more wild and started heckling the silent protestors using very snide remarks to make fun of those students. Just imagine a speaker called to speak of the terror and the problem of anti bullying suddenly becomes a bully.  He is also accused of using very vulgar language describing his partner. Isn't it strange that people who have authority and who are supposed to be protectors of others, suddenly become abusers?. What about the students who silently stood up and walked down the hall? I really appreciate the guts of the students. Remember they are high school students and yet they stand up for what they feel is right. I think this is one quality that we all should have. Ready to protest and also know to take a stand for what we believe. That is when transformation takes place in our life.

This week we are starting a new theme for our meditation and that is “ Transformation in our personal life”. The portion that we are going to use for our meditation is from 1 Samuel 19. Here is another story similar to what the news reported. David had been a person who has been so beneficial to Saul. He had helped him by delivering them from the Philistines. But as the fame and the popularity of David started growing Saul becomes insecure. Here is a king who feel insecure with a  person who is almost like a son to him and who is also a close friend of his son Jonathan. But when insecurity comes to a person, he becomes totally blind. Then there is no logic or reasoning in his life only blind and mad rage on how to put an end to the person who is supposed to cause the insecurity in life. It is in this context that King Saul plots against David. What an irony! a king who is supposed to take care of the welfare of others is now becoming a sadist who is concerned only about his happiness and his selfish pursuits. It is at this time that Saul’s son Jonathan does something that is courageous. He warns David about his father animosity and hatred  toward him and his wily scheme of killing him. Here is another young boy who takes a stand for his friend, for righteous cause even if it means to stand against his father. I think this incident is  beyond parallel in the Bible. What is  needed in our public life is people like Jonathan who would want to stand for what is just and right, even if it  means that you may offend people whom you love. Today we are so complacent that we just don't care as to what happens to us and also to others. That is why Martin Luther King said the famous word that I quoted in the picture “ Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter”

Have you ever stood up for what matters in life?