Time slows down and the chatter disappears as the world has been waiting…

United States President Barack Obama announces that Osama bin Laden, the Saudi extremist whose al-Qaida terrorist organization killed more than 3,000 people in coordinated attacks from Sept. 11, 2001, is dead following a military operation in Pakistan and the U.S. has recovered his body.

“Justice has been done,” the president declared as crowds formed outside the White House to celebrate, singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “We Are the Champions,”

U.S. officials say that U.S. Special Operations forces carried out the attack on the al-Qaida compound, killing bin Laden when they shot him in the head during a firefight.

A man ordered our own planes to crash into our own buildings killing a lot of our own innocent people.  Our military was ordered to shoot him in the head.  Sounds like a normal reaction. Especially for a world super power that needs to send a message.

After facebook’s homepage erupts with clever one-liners on the topic from all varieties of people I start to wonder who that message effects more.

Us or them?

As I read every comment I wonder who’s side I’m on.

I don’t know how to feel.

Some people seem joyful that justice has been ushered in.

Some people are glad that an evil man is dead, and want it known that they receive great pleasure knowing that he’s burning in hell.

Some people act as if this was a terrible thing that had happened and may thought that it would’ve been better if the man who was declared a terrorist had been given the right to a fair trial.

I still don’t know how to feel.

Do I feel guilty for being happy?  Do I feel guilty for not being happy?

More importantly, I wonder how the soldier felt that pulled the trigger on the weapon that cracked a bullet to travel at thousands of feet per second until it pierced Osama bin Laden through his skin and into his skull?  Like a hero?  A legend?  Is that how we’re supposed to feel?  Is that why multitudes gather outside the gates of the White House and sing “We are the Champions?”

Are we?

Thousands of people still died.

Thousands of families still have an empty seat around the dinner table.

The Bible says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles”.

I’m still not sure how to feel.  But it seems certain that God is continuously concerned with the condition of our hearts.  It would seem good to me and the Holy Spirit that our love and compassion for the broken-hearted always be greater than the hatred we brew inside toward our enemy.

May we be motivated by love rather than hatred.

If not, then what makes us so different?

(first appeared on theomag.com)