Blessed are they who mourn

 The Troy Davis execution fills me with sadness.

I’m sad for the family of Mark McPhail, the police officer killed 22 years ago. I grieve their loss and that they were compelled to relive it publicly in recent days. They were counting on the execution of the accused murderer bringing them some relief.  I hope it does.  I have my doubts, but I’m not them. 

I’m sad for the family of Troy Davis. They’ve lost a part of their family in such a publicly shaming manner.

I’m sad that evidence, at trial and subsequently, was weighed and valued differently by people based largely on their relationship to the characters involved. All of Davis’ family felt the evidence pointed to his innocence. All of McPhail’s family saw it from a completely different point of view. No coincidence; we see reality based on our vantage point.

I’m sad for those around the world who came to believe that Troy Davis was innocent. They awake today to the bitter taste of injustice, the pain of a system that could not or would not halt a process in order to reconsider, despite its no-turning-back consequences. They likely feel disillusioned and discounted.

I’m sad for those who never waivered in their confidence that Troy Davis was guilty of the crime and, as a result, should be executed. I’m sad that execution remains a form of sentencing in our society.  I’ll admit, there are times when I would like to see certain persons executed. But I am called, as we all are, to rise above our likes and to act and react from a deeper, eternal point of view.

Lot of sadness today. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” May we each, at the point of our own need, be comforted and healed toward God’s dream.