Good Morning – it is 0622 in Columbia Maryland in the United States of America. I wake up after a dreamless night of sleep, but a somewhat restful sleep. I wanted to pen these first thoughts before I checked the news. Yesterday we received news of a beheading of the third innocent Western person by the Islamic State.
Based on my seventy-years of life in civilized society, I am very troubled by the recent events in the Middle East. Yes, I have been trained in the military. I served for thirty nine years in the United States Navy. Honorably. I retired fifteen years ago.
But more importantly, I was educated in a profession. I am a medical doctor. For me that is calling and I took an oath to do no harm.
I awake to hear the birds chirp and the sky to lighten. It is morning.
I have not heard the news this morning. My last thoughts at midnight were from a live broadcast from BBC television from the United Kingdom. I learned of the hasty meetings of leaders in the U. K. and the U. S. A.
This is shaping up as nothing less that Civilization versus the uncivilized. It is organized and functioning countries facing a threat of internal insurrection. No it is not Christians and Jews against Muslims. Most Muslims are well functioning members of civilized countries. Even the pope, has weighed in. BBC has learned that he had called this fragmented World War Three. His ancestors have fought in world wars before. To me, even religion will be called up on to take sides.
This is not simply a series of actions in an uncivilized part of the world. It is a global threat. To civilization as we know it. I do not think that I over dramatize this. As my Internet is down I cannot access the World Wide Web. So I turned to a print dictionary in my book case. It is a Webster’s dictionary of many decades ago. It defines threat as “an expression of an intent to inflict evil.” British Prime Minister David Cameron referred to this latest event as “evil.”
Civilized man and woman will discuss these events today around the world. Even down under where Australia yesterday expressed concern. It seems to be a major issue for the world’s youth. Many unemployed and unengaged in meaningful activities. Frightening. I am sure that many of the world’s population will pray on this. It is Sunday morning and I expect churches will be filled with anxious people looking to our God for guidance. Even Pope Francis has said that war is not a satisfactory approach to organized, or unorganized evil.
So as I reflect on my own seventy-five years, I am worried. I too, will turn to God for guidance. I know this situation will affect all of us. No one will be able to sit on the side lines this time.
The sky is lightening and somewhere close the sun is up. I will take a break, reread this stream of consciousness and meditate and pray. Really. For eternal guidance.
As I sum up, I can hear a jet plane on an early morning flight. Now another. People on their way across this globe. Immediately it reminds me of that morning thirteen years ago when the passenger jets slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Now it seems to be symbols of our business, military and life that were attacked. I will take a break, eat breakfast and reenter our world. It is 0727.
