Thought for the Week
“Only five?” This is the reaction many (most?) of us have when we hear that yet another mass shooter has struck. “Only five?” I confess, I’ve responded this way. It takes bigger numbers, more deaths to impress us. Most mass killings don’t even make the front page anymore. Have we become desensitized to suffering and violence? Desensitized, yes. “Become,” no.
What’s wrong with us? A lot, actually. But nothing that hasn’t been there all along. There’s a whiff of the monster about us, and there always has been.
My college girlfriend went to work at the admitting desk of a hospital emergency ward. The first week she came home with eyes rimmed red from weeping. The second week her eyes were dry but she spoke poignantly of the suffering she’d seen. Before long she had to strain to remember the carnage; she’d accepted it as normal, as a part of her job.
When the unthinkable becomes normal, we become inured to it. We have to. That’s how we survive. We stop screaming with outrage, we stop letting it disrupt our daily lives, and eventually we stop even noticing it. After all, atrocities happen every minute of every day. Rape, torture, assault, murder—these are the norms of a broken world.
Evil exists. We can—we must—live with this reality, and our tears of outrage will do nothing to change it. But whether or not we weep, we must never cease to fight against it. Both in ourselves and in the world around us. The two are inseparable:
Those who fight monsters are at risk of becoming monsters themselves. Always. But those who ignore monsters are already in the process of becoming one. So desensitize yourself, if you must,
But never stop fighting.
“Hate evil, love good, and turn your courts into halls of justice. Then perhaps the Creator of all things will have mercy on those who remain.” ~Amos 5:15
I believe we all have become that way, some more than others. The news is garbage. Death, crooks, robbers, shooters, it goes on and on. My wife was a nurse for 35 years and has seen so much death that she became that way. Now that she is retired, things affect her more normally. Our society has done this to us. Too much of everything evil and wrong that people try to smooth it over as right and normal. Good post.
Thanks for your insights, Phil.
This is a depressing but strangely encouraging post. Thanks, Mitch.
Much food for thought here, Mitch. It seems to me that those of us who have been horrified by the escalating violence are indeed becoming desensitized. Then there are those who were never sensitized enough in the first place. So many in this world lack empathy. So many are living in a solipsistic fog and the pain and dysfunction of the world doesn’t seem real to them until it hits close to home. Their world view seems to be “If it hasn’t happened to me then it’s not really a problem,” or worse, “I can see it’s a problem but the solution would require me to change or give up something I’m not willing to part with.”
Sad but very true, Steve.
May we all be like Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, so named because he kept a tender heart for God’s people. We may not be able to change the evil, but it’s effects should always bring us to tears, whether physical or spiritual tears—God captures every one in his bottle.
“God captures every (tear) in his bottle.” Beautifully put, Debi.
Well said. We must allow ourselves to empathize with the pain of others (though maybe not 24/7)…
I’ve been feeling outrage fatigue lately, and I hate myself for it, even though it’s a defense mechanism.
Karma will teach them a great lesson. Just need to pray and trust God.
I have to share this. It’s too important.
I realize more and more that instead of me saying, “What’s wrong with people?!” I need to understand that I DO know what’s wrong and that I, as a Christ follower, have the answer. I need to share the good news, and pray for and love those living in darkness.
I heartily agree, Patty.
I reread this thought-provoking post several times. I like and agree with your conclusion, “Evil exists. We can—we must—live with this reality, and our tears of outrage will do nothing to change it. But never stop fighting. The two are inseparable.”
I believe, “empathy with action” is the only way to fulfill my duty towards my fellow beings.
Thank you, Mitch for this heartfelt post.
Amen, Chaya.
We cannot ignore the monsters–or we become them. A profound thought, Mitch. God bless!
You too, Nancy.
Some have become more immune…here’s the other question, what of those who are less prone to becoming used to it. I think in smaller areas, people are less prone to losing their shock to some things. Though it might be just some people. Evil is created by humans. Perhaps lack of being able to see the sacred exists in all? I don’t know. My brain is somewhere else…but felt the need to come in and check the post.
One important way to fight against the rise in all sorts of crime is with our votes. We must vote for politicians, judges, district attorneys, etc. who will: 1) side with the innocent victims of crime, not the perpetrators, and 2) support and encourage ministries and programs with proven track records (not those that just collect donations but never seem to accomplish anything), to work in communities and prisons, helping individuals become productive and fulfilled citizens. What such ministries DON’T need is lots of governmental red tape. In some cases, the monster begins to grow in childhood; intervention needs to start then.
Excellent post Mitch. Certainly food for thought. I think, if people lived in communities where we must interact all the time, instead of in separate units, we’d all be more aware when things are going wrong with someone’s attitude. People definitely need to begin showing that they care for one another and not just their own circle of family and friends. Making money and material possessions the main focus only encourages crime. You help build my house, and I help build yours. Then, with that philosophy in mind, no one has to slave all their lives for necessities. Perhaps in time, we’ll change the way we do things for the better. I’d like to hope so… A very thought provoking post! Maybe you’ve inspired me :0)
“You help build my house, and I help build yours. Then, with that philosophy in mind, no one has to slave all their lives for necessities.” Not an easy ideal to attain, Wingman, but one worth working toward!
Thanks Mitch. You’re too kind. I just made a blog entry based on how your post inspired me. I’m still thinking over to reblog you.
Mitch, this is so timely. I’ve had situations in the past 4 days that had me asking the exact question. Desensitized,…lack of sympathy,…and if/when apathy hits, it crushes my spirit. I hang on to hope and faith, my friend. Like Amos and the promise of an eternity without this pain. I try and take action (just in a situation this morning which started to madden my emotions)…stop, and TRY to be the only glimpse of Jesus they may know. I never want to be desensitized ~I’d rather die! Thank you, Mitch, for sharing wisdom and truth!
And thank you for sharing your heart, as always, Karla!
That’s so kind, Mitch! Thank you ❤️
I cannot yell “yes” enough. You hit the nail on the head. As someone who has worked both in animal welfare and abuse/neglect of people i used to hear “I could never do what you do “. I guess I was desensitized to what I saw because it was how I could do good. I loved my job because I could actually make a difference. I am now retired but i still go into defender mode on occasion. I got a tattoo of an arrow on my ankle to represent my job. I am thrilled that you actually get it!
Bless you, Martha.
Outstanding post. Very well received – thank you.
My privilege, AJ.
Thank you for writing on a topic that is near and dear to me. I am stunned at what is rated “TV-Y7” for 7 years olds, for example on Netflix, etc. Gotta stay vigilant, for sure.
“Never stop fighting”
Amen Mitch! 🙏
Thank you for this eloquent and succinct post on this topic.
Waking up once again to TRUTH thanks to you.
You too, Andrea!
I follow a daily “Letters from an American” by Heather Cox Richardson, speak regularly to an Aussie girlfriend living in Texas, and of course, our nightly news often features the latest high-hitting drama from the States, be that mass shootings, violence, political unrest, misinformation, etc.
It does not seem to me that there is a wholesale appetite for change. And, since voting is optional, held on a weekday, and polling districts gerrymandered, not much ability for the population to force change en masse.
Although gun ownership is low in Australia, and generally speaking “ordinary” people do not shoot each other (but drug criminals do, and increasingly more often) I despair for our future too, because over the decades much of what happens in the USA eventually infiltrates our society.
If only for our sake here downunder … please … maintain the outrage and fight against it spreading.
Will to, Gwen. Your perspective much appreciated.
5:40
We used to call it compassion fatigue, where there simply isn’t enough emotional reserve, to deal with the constant losses. In my community, a 14 year old accidentally shot his younger brother with a gun they were playing with at their grandma’s house. A double tragedy for the family, but that only one of multiple deaths in the past week. Your words are prophetic. We need to care.
Yes. A thousand times, yes.
And despite all of this that screams otherwise, our God is in control.
Fight we must.
We are bombarded with so much violence in our entertainment, that murder and mayhem in our reality seems normal. We are preprogrammed to accept it. Desensitization happens so quickly as a result. The gatekeepers are fully aware of what they are doing by saturating our senses with such reports and media entertainment. Eventually there will be revolution demanding a change, we will “force” their hands, and they will act for the salvation of society. But at what cost?
It’s so easy to change the legislation. But they won’t. I grew tired of the violence after Sandy Hook… Stoneman Douglas still hurts. They don’t want the bloodshed to stop..not yet anyways.
Great post Mitch. 🙏
I hear you, Nigel, and thanks for your feedback.
Key words: “…turn your courts into halls of justice…”. Great post, my friend.
Thank you, Kellye.
Agreed, Mitch. It’s 100 percent true that those we fight that are monsters effects us and if you don’t take that desensitization to God and get the healing you need you become a monster yourself. I could write a book on this, trust me! The deeper and closer your relationship with our Lord Jesus the more you are able to see no matter how deep in the forest you may be.
Amen, Cora.
Amen brother!