The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Several times now in Apples I have mentioned A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. My children and I have loved these books, and really enjoyed reading them together. I am surprised at how often a "lesson" from the books presents itself to me, and for the last few weeks I have really been thinking about one in particular. Like Jacob struggling at the Jabbok, this situation from Unfortunate Events has sent me to mental wrestling. Here's a sample of the situation from the tenth book in the series, called aptly, The Slippery Slope:

"We're not in a pleasant situation," Violet said, and the eldest Baudelaire was right. It was not pleasant... But the least pleasant part of the situation wasn't the cold dirt, or the freezing winds, or even their own exhaustion as it grew later and the children dug deeper and deeper. The least pleasant part was the idea, shared by the two Baudelaires and their new friend, that they might be doing a villainous thing. The siblings were not sure if digging a deep pit to trap someone, in order to trade prisoners with a villain, was something that their parents...would do... As they looked at the villainous thing they had made, the three volunteers could not help wondering if they were villains, too, and this was the least pleasant feeling in the world.

The situation the children have found themselves in really takes nine and a half books to explain, but what I can tell you is that they are orphans dealing with a treacherous and terrible villain meaning to cause them harm. They decide to try fighting fire with fire (which for those of you familiar with the book is pretty punny in itself), by trying to beat the bad guys & gals at their own game. But time and time again, the children struggle with the context. By playing the game of the villain, can you actually become a villain too? How do you fight injustice, AND not become that which you oppose?

It is really a pretty deep and edgy question. You can apply it in all kinds of places - homes, board rooms, churches, court rooms, battle fields, classrooms. How do you not become that which you oppose?

It is easy to do so. It is easy to get fed up and join the masses. It is easy to consider the oft quoted biblical teaching of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth:"

Exodus 21
23If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Leviticus 24
19Anyone who maims another shall suffer the same injury in return: 20fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; the injury inflicted is the injury to be suffered.

Deuteronomy 19
21Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Is this where the rubber meets the road? Are we to force atonement? This is where I really become a situational ethicist; should the prior circumstance dictate the final outcome? Does the end justify the means? Honestly, I'm not sure, and that is why I struggle with the Baudelaires. I get why they are digging that pit. I want them to succeed. I want the bad guy to get caught. I want a happy ending.

Lent is such a time too. We can read the stories of the Passion and really struggle. If we take the time to place ourselves in different characters of the stories, instead of just identifying with our favorites, we will find more and more wiggling. The tension is high - a man's life is on the line - chaos rules the day. The crowd is spitting mad, the lies have huge consequences, and there is a definite fight or flight feeling in the air.

How do you not become that which you oppose?

How do you stand strong when the chips are really, really down?

How do you not become the villain?

I know on one level, these are easy questions to answer. But deeper down, they are not. Here is a simple example. If people hurt you and anger you for a long time, how do you not radiate that same hurt and anger to others?

How do you not become what has hurt you?

As for the Bible, there is more than just an eye for an eye:

Matthew 5.38-48
38 ‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,* what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

And as for the Baudelaires? Lemony Snicket gives them a way out too - at least this time. As the story continues, Violet has a response to her own internal struggle:

She opened her eyes and faced her brother and friend. "I think we might be doing the wrong thing," she said. "But we agreed," Quigley said, "to fight fire with fire." Violet nodded, and stuck her hands in her pocket... "I know we agreed... but [we're] an organization that stops fire. If everyone fought fire with fire, the entire world would go up in smoke."

That is about as true as it gets. If you are suffering from heartache, broken spirit, or just down right fatigue during Lent, consider stopping the fire. Through prayer, supportive friends, reading, massage, mediation, gardening, volunteering, movies - whatever brings peace back to your soul. IF you can experience some small kindness today, or share some small kindness with another, you may find the blessing you offer is able to start dousing the fire.

Stop the pattern if you can. Become life giving water to that fire. Let's make the little steps that keep the world from going up in smoke.

Victim or Villain - these are not the only options. Lent is closing its black doors, but not yet. In the meantime, look around. God is good. Friends are close. Love is sweet.

Amen.

In Wisdom,
Brandi Calhoun Diamond