A man in Wilmington got into his car one morning. As he turned on the engine, there was a strange sound. He ignored the sound, and drove for about 20 minutes, often at speeds as high as 65 miles an hour. When he arrived at his destination, he heard the same sound. This time he popped open the hood to see what was happening. Much to his surprise, a little kitten was sitting on his engine.
He rescued the cat, gave it food and water, took it to the veterinarian and then looked for a home. He decided that the best choice was my niece, Suzanne. The cat now has a wonderful home in Delaware with her.
I tell that story as a counterpoint to the events in Washington, D.C., in early January. Chaos and violence are the marks of darkness. Compassion and care are the marks of love.
Violence has a strange attraction to it. Newspapers that have attempted to print only good news have gone out of business. Similar fates awaited other forms of media. Like a moth attracted to a flame, something in us is stirred by violence.
This may be some trait left over from earlier times. For example, if I’m a caveman, and another caveman tells me that it’s a beautiful day, I may be mildly interested. However, if that same man says that there is a lion near the cave, I’ll be very interested.
We who were not part of the violence in Washington were drawn to watch the reports on television and other outlets.
One of the real tragedies of violence is that good people can be manipulated into participating in violence. No doubt some of the participants thought they were involved in a just cause.
How can we make good moral decisions? Let me suggest two basic things to consider: First, is this kind? We had a professor at St. Mary’s Seminary, Father Brennan, who always said: “Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.” The behavior in Washington was not kind.
Second, follow your conscience. In the seminary, my good friend and classmate, Des McGee, would often respond to any suggestion to do something questionable: “That’s against my principles.” Today he is a monsignor in another diocese.
Love must be the basis of our lives. A correct conscience must guide our lives. As another wise person put it: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
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