On October 27, 2018, once more our nation exhaled a collective gasp when news broke of another senseless mass shooting – this time in Pittsburg, PA. On that day Robert Bowers entered the Tree of Life Jewish Synagogue and sprayed his bullet-shaped vitriol into the congregants as they worshiped together. Eleven died from his murderous rampage. Bowers, wounded in a shootout with law enforcement officials, was taken to Allegheny General Hospital. It was there that something additionally nonsensical happened.
One of the nurses assigned to care for Bowers was Ari Mahler, himself a Jew, and a member of the Tree of Life Synagogue. Though Bowers had just murdered in cold blood eleven members of Mahler’s racial family, instead of responding in bitterness and hatred, Mahler chose to treat Bowers with dignity and with grace. Commenting later on his actions, Mahler said, “I didn’t say a word to him about my religion…I wanted him to feel compassion. I chose to show him empathy. I felt the best way to honor his victims was for a Jew to prove him wrong.” Mahler further explained his motives for giving such loving care by saying, “Love. That’s why I did it. Love as an action is more powerful than words, and love in the face of evil gives others hope.”1
At the same time we label the murderous actions of Robert Bowers as senseless, is it not also justifiable to label Ari Mahler’s loving actions as senseless? Would anyone condemn Mahler had he asked not to be included in the nursing team at all? Would any reasonable person begrudge Mahler had he treated Bowers injuries out of duty, but certainly not in a spirit of love? After all, that’s what makes most sense in a situation like this.
Such senseless hatred…and yet, such senseless love in response. How in the world does a person love senselessly like Mahler did? Mahler gives us insight in his statements when He said, “I chose to show him empathy.” Another way he could have said it: “I chose to love him instead of hating him.” Selfish love comes to us naturally. Selfless love is unnatural, and thus will always be a conscious, personal choice. Senseless love like Mahler’s is a decision of the will in unison with the heart, never a matter of the heart alone.
Fortunately, most of us we will never be called upon to make the kind of choice Ari Mahler had to make that day. But still, opportunities abound for us to choose to love senselessly. For examples: that difficult family member, that difficult co-worker or boss, that difficult client or customer, that difficult neighbor, that difficult person you encounter in the natural flow of life.
Looking for the ultimate example of senseless love to motivate you to love that way? Look no further than to the person of Jesus Christ, of whom the scriptures say in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God chose to love us that senselessly.
Senseless love is memorable love. Senseless love is noble love. Senseless love is admirable love. Senseless love is worthy of imitation. The choice is always ours.
1 Dension Forum, 11/5/18
Recent Comments