Law, Not War? Rather, Love! (By Peter Black)

He and his wife have given millions of dollars for charitable purposes, yet they live in a small, modest bungalow in Florida. Ben came to North America from Eastern Europe in poverty and said he plans to finish his life that way.
 

Benjamin Ferencz.
Credit: Washington Post

His wife suffers from dementia, and his attentiveness and presence helps comfort and keep her stable. When he’s absent from her side, she misses him greatly. And so, this retired lawyer turns down numerous requests from around the world asking him to address conferences and speak at universities. That’s love.

Credit: Washington Post

Ben (Benjamin) Ferencz is the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials that were held shortly after the end of World War II. At only twenty-seven years of age he was appointed chief prosecutor of the Nazi extermination squads, considered the biggest murder trial in human history. Now at the age of ninety-seven his passion for peace-making burns as fervent and bright as ever!

Ferencz was Anna Maria Tremonti’s guest on CBC’s The Current, on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. I listened, intrigued by his personality, life and passion. He doesn’t take vacations, but continues to educate, inform and influence others as best he can, even though no longer touring the world. His mantra asserts that “Law, not War” and persistent education and resolution of conflicts is the better way. Armaments won’t do it, he insists.

Ben Ferencz’s passion reverberates in my mind today and somehow interacts with my own thoughts and journey during this meditative season of Lent.

Inter-church Lenten services are held in my community. I’m inspired by them and thoroughly appreciate fellowship with people from other denominational affiliations.

Sure, we may differ in some doctrinal particulars and practises. Fact is though, that God is not beholden to me and neither are those people. But, I am beholden to God and it is incumbent on me to recognize His grace as extended towards and expressed through those who believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God, our Lord and Saviour, who gave His life and shed His blood to redeem us from our sins and reconcile us to God.

I feel the warmth of fellowship “in Christ” with many, regardless of race and colour, and we mutually embrace each other as Christ-followers. That’s also love.

We hear much about mistrust, anger and hate directed towards “the other,” in our society and in the world at large, today. In harmony with Mr. Ferencz, I acknowledge that information and education can play a part, and that laws banning expressions of hate and hateful acts might help.

Trailer Credit: maxresdefault ; YouTube

I admire and appreciate what I’ve learned of this remarkable human being, Ben Ferencz. The film, A Man Can Make A Difference, tells his story. I’m sure the world is a better place because of his passionate commitment to justice for all.

Laws prescribe standards of behaviour, from domestic levels to international affairs. But will well-meant and well-worded laws change hearts? Surely the best laws are those that are indelibly inscribed in hearts and demonstrated through lives well-lived with understanding and practical love for others.

Jesus Christ’s accomplishment through the cross declares that self-giving and loving actions can help change attitudes and outcomes and can break down the walls of suspicion and mistrust that divide.  And yet, even He met with fierce opposition that led to His crucifixion and death. But was it not really His Divine love that held Him to the cross?

May the love of God our Father, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, transform hearts today.

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Peter A. Black lives in Southwestern Ontario. He writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column, P-Pep! and is author of Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart, and Parables from the Pond. ~~+~~

 

 

Random Acts . . . Paying it Forward by Peter A. Black

Credit: waywardcyclist.com

We got here so fast, it seems, on the threshold of summer – a season for observing the process of growth and development of what was sown in spring.

Whereas spring speaks to our human need for awakening to new possibilities and taking steps to prepare for them, summer speaks of our need for growth in person and character and spiritual grace.  
Here's my column article (modified) published today in The Standard Guide Advocate):
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“Two shot dead and three wounded, one with life-threatening injuries, in what is believed to be a random act of violence . . .” Such headlines are all too common. In this opening news scenario the randomness of the murderous act didn’t exist alone; there would have been an element of intentionality on part of the perpetrator of the crime. Thankfully there are other kinds of random acts.

Recently, my Beloved and I met out of town with another couple for lunch and a visit. When ready to leave we asked for our bills. Surprise! Surprise!
“There are no bills – someone already paid for your meals,” the server smiled. “Wow! That’s wonderful, but how may we thank our benefactor?” I asked. “Oh, you can’t,” she said, “The person wishes to remain anonymous.” 

Credit: mainstreettales.com

Perhaps the generous individual left home that morning with the thought of performing a random act of kindness for someone. However, they couldn’t have known until that lunch hour to whom they would direct their generosity, for May and I drove almost an hour to the location, while our lunch friends journeyed about the same from the opposite direction.

Individuals, couples and other groups were dining there at the same time as we, and yet we were the ones who became recipients of that random act of generosity.

Ever experienced either of those types of randomness? You were the happy recipient of some unforeseen act of kindness? Or you were dismayed to find yourself on the receiving end of an evil hostile deed?

Kind, generous friends of ours received a nasty surprise several weeks ago when their home was broken into and they were robbed. And yet, I know these friends won’t stop doing good; they’ll continue to trust God and perform gracious deeds.

The phrase “Paying it forward” has buzzed around in recent years. It’s an OK term. One way we can pay a kindness forward is to perform a kind deed – perhaps a similar one – for someone else, randomly. That is, to do it spontaneously and unpretentiously, with no expectation of reward, especially if remaining anonymous.

Goodness multiplies when people do kind things for others who, in turn, sow seeds of kindness in the soil of other folk’s lives and circumstances, because their harvest yields even more seed to be sown. Therefore, more people receive benefit, for when the receivers act in grace, paying it forward, the world becomes so much brighter and better a place and God’s light and love shine through.

In contrast, when evil is repeated and paid forward the world grows darker. Anger, hate and revenge ensue, families feud against each other, criminal elements even up their scores, while tribes and nations go to war and kill and maim.

A senior lady and her daughter’s pleasant trail walk ended when the mom fell. She was quite shaken up and sustained gravel cuts. A lady offered assistance. Later the mom said, “I was blown away . . . didn’t even know the woman, yet she helped my daughter get me up again. She took us to her home nearby so I could bathe and dress my bleeding knee and scraped up hands, and even provided adhesive bandages. Such kindness . . . She insisted we stay for coffee and scones.”

Remember the Good Samaritan? His random act of compassionate kindness was also intentional. Amazing isn’t it? God’s kingdom comes as we live in grace intentionally, amidst the seeming randomness of life’s circumstances.

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~ Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart

~ Parables from the Pond

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