Pick A Side

One day Jesus, He's gonna come back / And say: "Enough of this, you're getting way off track / All the stealin', cheatin', lyin', all the little babies cryin' / Well, I'll tell you I can't take anymore."

"Cause I died for your sins so long ago / It seems you forget with every day that rolls / I'm gonna stop it all right now / Before it gets way out of control."

Everybody gonna stand in line / When it comes to the judgement time / Pick the side of the fence that you're on / When He comes to carry you home.

Now if you wanna kill and die for your God / That's your prerogative, but I'll tell you that you're wrong / I think God, He's an understanding man / But I don't think that's part of his plan.

'Cause he wants us all to live in harmony / Take care of one another when we need / So if you want to rant and rave, murder and corrupt / Stay away from the ones that I love.

An' everybody gonna stand in line / When it comes to the judgement time / Pick the side of the fence that you're on / When He comes to carry you home.

- Carry You Home, Cross Canadian Ragweed

It has been 3,287 days since the events of September 11, 2001, yet those tragic images are forever burned in our memory.  The billowing smoke, the burning flames, and the wreckage that we saw for weeks afterward will never be forgotten, nor will the heroes who perished trying to save our brothers and sisters caught in the tragedy.  Never before had I seen America so vulnerable, so angry, but so determined.  Patriotism was everywhere, and it was beautiful.  What happened?

Malik Zulu Shabazz was on a news program the other day mocking the 09/11 tragedy, and has also said previously he believes Israel and George W. Bush were involved in the attacks, views endorsed by Amiri Baraka in his poem "Somebody Blew Up America." My post the other day was about anger, and these men made me extremely angry.  So my post today for me personally is the way I am contructively dealing with my anger, while hopefully giving others something to think about in the process.

It is disgusting to think that people twist the calamity of 9 years ago into a racist conspiracy theory.  From where I am sitting, Islamic extremists attacked our country in the name of a religion, not a race (which is for a whole other post). 

My point here is do not waffle on your moral stance - do not be Shabazz and rant about injustices when you yourself are injust.  Pick a side of the fence and stay there.  The problem today is that there is too much gray area that people live in; the line between black and white has been skewed to fit our purposes and desires.

The grass may always look greener on the other side, but it's not.  If you give up who you are to eat that grass, then what have you lost?  Your soul?  Eventually, maybe.  Be careful with what side of the fence in which you stand.  One side is good, one side is evil.  One side is God, one side is Satan.  One side is eternal life, the other is eternal damnation.  That is the big picture.

The fence runs all throughout our lives.  Daily decisions such as helping a person in need (fixing a flat tire, buying lunch) or just moving past pretending like you don't see them there.  Laughing at a cruel joke at the expense of another.  Cheating on a test or stealing something from work.  Where do you sit on the fence everyday of your life?

America stayed on its side of the fence and chose not to allow fear to envelope the nation, and although the lines of politics are always skewed, it was clear where we stood following September 11th.  Do you stand on the side for truth and righteousness or death and deceit?  Do you stand in Heaven or Hell?  Do you stand with your Savior or with the ultimate liar?  Don't sit on the fence or be lukewarm.  Know who you are.  Pick a side. 

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? - Matthew 16:26



JrV