Love beats violence
James Cathcart
July 03, 2018
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Lamentations 3: 22-33
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for one to bear
the yoke in youth,
28 to sit alone in silence
when the Lord has imposed it,
29 to put one’s mouth to the dust
(there may yet be hope),
30 to give one’s cheek to the smiter,
and be filled with insults.31 For the Lord will not
reject for ever.
32 Although he causes grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
33 for he does not willingly afflict
or grieve anyone.
Love beats violence.
In the long run.
Not because it is faster, or louder, or more forceful.
Love beats violence because it is more patient.
Violence is restless and voracious and demanding.
But love keeps going, keeps trying, keeps pushing.
Violence relies on logic, however warped.
Love doesn’t need logic.
Violence has to be justified, explained, rationalised.
Love doesn’t need words and defies justification, explanation, and rationalisation.
Violence contains within it - its own destruction - it runs out of things to destroy or the energy to destroy it.
Love contains within it - its own resilience - it can never run out of things to create or passion to love them.
Where are we ultimately heading?
A place of love.
Because violence doesn’t have the stamina.
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