A Solution George Zimmerman Did Not Offer.

Folks are still buzzing about George Zimmerman having been found not-guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The verdict does not indicate that Zimmerman did not shoot Martin, only that he was not charged in the death. I cannot help but observe that most folks support our justice system, unless someone that we think is guilty is found not guilty by a jury. It's an imperfect system, except for all of the others, as the saying goes. What has not garnered as much attention in this mess is the whole idea of carrying a loaded gun in the same manner in which one carries one's car keys or wallet. Carrying a loaded firearm makes a statement about how the carrier views the rest of the world: all others are potential enemies. While crime statistics show that violent crime in the US has been decreasing steadily over the past several years, each day's headlines can make one doubt the veracity of those statistics. However, I think we need to remind ourselves of the worldview that our Christian heritage imparts to us: We should perceive others as potential friends first, unless they give us reason to think differently. If I were to walk the streets of downtown Lewisburg "packing heat," in my mind's eye, I would see everyone as a potential adversary. Thus I would feel secure in carrying a weapon for my own safety. That is the thinking in states such as Florida, where concealed weapons are not only legal, but encouraged. Recently, a church in Texas made headlines when a sign was posted in the church declaring the church a "gun-free zone." Folks were furious. What then, do they say when they read Jesus' admonition that "those who live by the sword will die by the sword?" I don't own a gun, and never will. It's a personal decision of a man who has never hunted and who always threw back whatever fish he caught. Because it is not in my DNA to carry or use a firearm, or to willingly harm anyone, I may be at increased risk if ever I am accosted by someone who means to do me personal harm. On the other hand, the Lord's command that we see one another as friends, and not as enemies, may give me the advantage of figuratively disarming a potential adversary by extending a hand instead of reaching for a gun. Hospitality can be a life-changing force, if only we allow it time to work.