Commentary: Caught In the Middle

Sad stories like that of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from a BP oil rig never seem to hit home until I see a picture of a little animal affected by the mess. Like this Northern Gannet pictured to the left whose natural color, believe it or not, is white.

The human element is no less tragic. One story in particular makes us aware of the challenges facing the fishing communities of Vietnamese and Cambodian immigrants. (Read it if you can.)

For some reason seeing the animals moves me differently. This is a tragedy that happens to them, not a tragedy caused by a means of keeping their world in motion. BP is a company that meets the needs which we keep them in business to provide, and there is an understood risk even if we don't stop to think about it until after a tragedy happens. (An interesting story with some different perspectives, not to mention some good facts and figures is HERE.)

I'm not in defense of the the oil companies. Neither am I on a quest to cause them to defend themselves. I'm caught in the middle. Caught between vindication and redemption. Between taking care of my own and rescuing others . Between greed and sharing. Between isolation and openness. Between being right and letting go. Between getting even and forgiving. Between longing for the redemption of all things and enjoying each moment for its unique beauty.

Caught in the middle is the nature of those who are on a journey through this land while at the same time seeing the Kingdom of Heaven in their their daily lives. I'm currently reading C.S. Lewis' book, "The Horse and His Boy." If you haven't read it, its a story about pilgrimage from a life of slavery toward a life of freedom. The horse in the story knows his citizenship is that of a Narnian even though he has been away for a long time. Time nor distance have separated him from his homeland he refuses to accept living in anything but the freedom of that kingdom. The boy on the other hand has never known such freedom but is willing to leave all in search of it.

Earlier this week I read on Winn Collier's blog a post reflecting on the Easter season. He writes, " We only need resurrection to go as much into life as our world has sunk into death." Its hard to believe that restoration will come fully to the gulf coast of Louisiana and Mississippi but like all things in this world - it will be restored. To those who are seeing the restoration around them, they will see even more of it. But to those who don't see it, they will continue to not see it in increasing measure.

To paraphrase Brennan Manning's thoughts about the old proverb "the eyes are the windows of the soul" - if our souls are cramped, threatened and filled with hurt, then that is what we will see in the world around us. But, if our souls are filled with hope, redemption and love then how beautiful the sights to be seen!