The Time That Is Given To Us

The terrorist attack on London should be a reminder to all of us that the War against Terror is actually a World War. We are each involved whether we like it or not. The terrorists are now threatening Denmark and Italy. Most of us had no problem going into Afghanistan. But many question the wisdom of Iraq; that it has no connection with the War on Terror. But the group claiming responsibility connected the action with both Afghanistan and Iraq. If this group is truly responsible, then clearly they see a link that many have questioned.

Dennis Prager made some interesting comments yesterday. We think of the dead. These are people that woke up in the morning, off on their day, expecting to see their families that night. And the injured. These are people who in an instant became brain-damaged, lost their sight and/or hearing. Some will be burned horribly; disfigured so badly they will refuse to go out in public.

They weren't wearing uniforms. They were just normal everyday people going about their lives. But that's the goal of terror. To make people fear living even routine, boring, normal lives.

Prager said that evil arises in each generation. This is true. My grandfather's generation had the Nazis. My father's generation had the Cold War. My generation has the evil of Islamic fascism. We may wish that it is not so but it is.

In the Fellowship of the Rings, Frodo says "I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." The ring represents evil.

Gandalf responds:

So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work, Frodo, than the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case you also were meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought.

There are other forces at work. Our only decision is what we will do with the time that is given to us. Will we fight evil or will we allow it to fester.

Lord will you give Britain the strength to deal with this attack, comfort for the victims and their families, peace to those who would otherwise be filled with fear, and resolve to world to stand against the darkness that would bind us.