I had you give me the first thing that came to mind for a series of words. A couple really stood out to me as you gave me your thoughts. One was “Justice”.
Here are your thoughts on justice:
Illusion, will never be fair this side of heaven, very much needed to end the genocide in Darfur. But since justice is all that it is to be gained, America really isn’t paying much attention, needed for those who can’t influence, selfish or self-serving, not happening enough, what I get when I forget to do homework, will happen when God returns, God’s domain, something to be striven for, is coming, mercy, law, makes me grateful for God’s grace, God, the mission, victory, not always balanced on this earth, rare, Awareness and action, grace, needed, fairness.
I am sure these thoughts come from many different places. Maybe personal experience, maybe book knowledge, maybe what you’ve been told. I’d love to discuss it a bit further.
Here is what the word justice means (dictionary.com)
Justice is, the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness, the moral principle determining just conduct, the administering of deserved punishment or reward
To bring to justice, is to cause to come before a court for trial or to receive punishment for one’s misdeeds
To do justice, is to act or treat justly or fairly, to appreciate properly, to acquit in accordance with one’s abilities or potentialities
More recently we have heard the term “Social Justice”. Kind of a way of picking a portion of life and focusing solely on that aspect. In this case, an equality between people. To have equal rights and opportunities as people. I love this and I think it is right on scripturally as well. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.“
My concern though is that using the term social justice, we may be causing people to think about justice in one way. I think this is a good way to describe fairness in rights and freedoms, but not a good way to look at justice overall.
Justice is necessary for fairness. Justice allows freedom and yet still upholds law. Justice is both reward and consequence. Justice is something both given and received.
We know that life is not fair and we seem ok with that. But if life is unfair, life is also unjust. When we think about injustice, we may not seem as “ok” with that. But what are we to do about it?
So 2 quick thoughts.
One is that justice is based on a set of morals. What is right and what is wrong. We have to determine what is right and wrong before we can even work “to do justice”. There are some right and wrong things that I think are easy to figure out in this process, but others that may not be agreed upon. I personally see my morals coming from Biblical standards, so as I work “to do justice” they would be based on Jesus and His teachings.
Two is that, we often get overwhelmed by what is going on outside our small sphere of influence. NorEaster brought up the issue in Darfur which is horrid and one of many. But we look at that and think, “what can we actually do for Darfur?”. I have always loved the statement, “Think globally and act locally”. We have an opportunity to influence people around us right now. We can affect people’s lives in our neighborhood’s with the same passion and determination that we have to see entire nations freed. Everyday there is injustice. We can’t only focus on what is happening outside of the US, we also need to focus on what is happening next door. When a wife is abused. We need to notice what is happening in schools when a child is bullied. Or what takes place around town when a homeless man is ridiculed. This is injustice as well.
So, do you think we can make some sort of mark on injustice? Can we begin in our sphere of influence (cause everyone influences) to make some sort of mark? How can you see yourself doing this?
I am a lot like my Mom. As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized more and more how much I am like her. Sometimes I don’t like that. I want to be my own person. But the older I get, the more I realize how special that is. It’s an opportunity to take the person my Mom is and show the world how great a person she is. Yes, we fought. Yes, we are both strong willed. We are both leaders and it was hard for me to submit to that at times. She has been patient with me and through it all, she loved me and always did what was best for me. I owe her! I love my Mom and I love that she loves me.
