mob

I sat in Grewcock typing my annotated bibliography. Christmas music floated from the speakers. Amanda’s pink and blue striped socks wiggled against the arm of the couch. A crackling-less fire warmed the fireplace. Fox News played in AJ’s.

I glanced up at the widescreen and saw a fire above the words MOB SCENE. The top left corner of the screen said LIVE.

A friend lives near Dearborn, Mich., and my immediate thought was of her worry of riots after the election. A moment of panic. Mobs setting things on fire? I typed “fox news, mob” into google.



Overseas. I relaxed.

It was a disconcerting experience. Mobs are mobs; fire is fire; death is death whether here or overseas. An Israeli daughter who loses her brother sheds no fewer tears than I would.

Why am I so unconcerned?

Amanda said it could be the ocean--we're so separated, geographically, from the Middle East that it creates an emotional separation as well.

I'd like to think nobly and say that, as a finite human, I cannot be concerned with every horror in the world, else I would burn out. But I don't know if I'm as concerned as I ought to be.

Just yesterday I told a friend--lightheartedly, no less--that abortion would inevitably die out because pro-lifers have more babies than pro-choicers, and eventually we'd vote them out. But what about all the children who are dying before then? Is their pain nothing to me? Distant, too.

Before I overthink this as I often do (and perhaps already have)--I have class at two o'clock--perhaps it isn't so important where I am now.

Perhaps the important thing is where I go. There will never be a time (here, anyway) when I am perfect in charity. So perhaps instead of examining my wretchedness--chief of sinners!--and dwelling in it, I should work to improve.

Does the mob on TV merit wailing that interferes with my schoolwork?

Well, no. But perhaps a brief moment to pray for them and recognize them as human--as made imago Dei--as alteri Christorum.

And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me (Mt. 25:40).

That much I can do.

For him.

[addendum]