Growing up, and even sometimes later, was difficult because there was always someone to report your wrong doing. Germany found a way of turning its people against each other. Telling on others increased personal safety or provided desired approval without having to be a better person. Somehow it can be satisfying and boost self esteem to find others faults without accepting or becoming accountable for your own.

Where is the group who says, “Let’s do better,” because they realize they are part of the short coming that must be identified? Where are the ones who live so much better that their examples make the failing deliberate their choices and learn to desire better? Where are the voices of compassion who understand the reasons people make the wrong choices and move to assist them to find a better way or a way out of harmful ways?

Are the doom prophets desiring punishment like Jonah or rescue like Jeremiah? I trace my motives for blaming and shaming others, and I am blamed and shamed by my attitude. My pointed finger aims in the direction I need to serve, not accuse. The pointed finger identifies prayer needs and a desire for God’s rescue for the hurt and hurtful, like me. I am never isolated from those who I feel are doing wrong because I am a part of them as they are of me. Honesty would demand that I recognize that I seek with or for, and not against. The one who works to destroy them and lead them in wrong ways is my enemy too.

Cruelty grows where joy and justice are absent. Ghandi seemed to believe that finding fault was a call to serve, and to serve in a way that was unlike the wrong he perceived, but better. Ghandi may not have been Christian, but his example is worthy of note. We should fight like the Americans in WWII because the Germans would travel to the American sector to be captured because of the way they treated captured enemies. Japanese were shocked that they were not treated by Americans in the same way they treated others. Becoming better than your enemies and an example for the broken is far more difficult than pointing out their faults and failings. I’ve a lot of work to do.