Survival of the Fittest

I had an experience this morning that has haunted my mind since I witnessed it. For those of you, who like me are Bambi lovers, this story may scar you slightly. You have been warned!

While leaving my gym this morning I witnessed a horrible gang beating take place. I will ease your minds and let you know that this crime was a crime between birds and not people. There was one little bird that was injured and unable to fly. As a result, there were 6-10 other larger birds attacking the smaller one, each one trying to take the prize. My heart told me to intervene and save this little bird, but I soon realized that the injuries incurred were too severe for a saving to have taken place. Just as one bird thought he had won, another larger bird would take the little bird away. This sequence of larger birds taking from the smaller ones was repeated several times until the seagull stepped in to finish the battle.

It was Herbert Spencer, a biologist during the time of Darwin, who coined the phrase "survival of the fittest". This differs slightly from the theory of Natural Selection in that only the conquering or nt species will continue to exist, not just the one capable of reproducing itself. Having witnessed an act as I did this morning, Spencer would appear to be correct. That it is a dog-eat-dog world and that the one that carries the bigger stick wins. The only problem I have with that is the existence of humanity. Why is it that having witnessed this event I felt sorrow and discomfort? Some would say it is because I have been pre-conditioned to this sentiment and, had I been raised in another culture or time, it would not have bothered me. I believe that the only way in which we can walk past someone in need without lending help is if we have pre-conditioned ourselves to do so. So have I been pre-conditioned? Yes, but where I will disagree is with whom I have been pre-conditioned by.

In short, we need to ask the question why we do not work in the same manner as animals. Why is it that if we see someone fall, it should, and more often is our natural response to lend a hand rather than strike the final blow. I propose to you that it is because of whose image we have been created in. A law has been written on the hearts of all humanity, a law that is a representation of the God who created us. If we remove this law, as many have attempted to do, then we are reduced to acting in very much the same manner as birds, driven by instinct rather than reason. Our ability to reason and to love is precisely what separates us from the rest of creation and gives us the unique title of “image bearers” of the God of the universe.

The Unwritten Rule

Since I was a small child, I have had a fear of aquatic life. How that fear was developed however, I will leave to another post. The bottom line is that I am terrified of fish and to the best of my knowledge, the feeling is mutual. This fear often complicates life since I have always held so dearly to the fact that a) I am outdoorsy type of person and b) I have always claimed to be a very tough minded character. So having to explain that I would rather fight a crocodile than a sunfish is a conversation I'd rather not have.

In high school, my best friend Brent decided he was going to cure me of my phobia. In the spring in a stream near where I lived, the carp would begin to swim the rivers to reach the place where they spawned. This was always an event for us, watching these small water ways fill up with big, ugly, dirty fish. This is what happens when there is not enough movie theatres in town. On one particular day as we watched the fish Brent had an epiphany, I'm sure from the devil, that I needed to be cured. Knowing me as well as he did, he knew the only thing more powerful inside of me than my fear of fish was my compassion for living things (again, not the manliest of traits). In a work of brilliance, Brent grabbed one of the carp and threw it on the shore. I watched in horror as this fish struggled for breath, trying to make its way back to the water that provided life. Brent then turned to me and said "if you don't do something, it will die". A decision was needed and fast if this fish were to live. I was forced to muster up every bit of strength I had to pick up the fish, place it in the water holding its tail until the water brushed past its gills renewing its breath. The fish snapped out of its comma type state and quickly swam away. As a result of this event, I am even more terrified of fish then I was to start.

I knew that something had to be done to save the fish. I knew that even though fish died on a daily occasion to feed many, it was wrong for it to die as an act of cruelty. A code of conduct had been impressed on my heart and I believe in the hearts of all; that although death may occur, at no time is it to occur as an act of cruelty. In the book of Amos God condemns Damascus for their extreme cruelty over those who they had concurred. Even in the midst of war, God has required us to show mercy. Although there are varying viewpoints as to the justification of war, there is one absolute that penetrates all perspectives. That in war as in all things in life, mercy is to rule. The moment when mercy is replace by cruelty is the same moment when we subject ourselves to the judgement from not only the God who loves, but the God who is love.

Rob

Trust Me!

Trust is a funny thing isn't it?

A few weeks ago Becky was having strong stomach pains so we did what any fearful expectant parent did, we went straight to the hospital. We waited for a doctor to see her for close to three hours and when he finally arrived, he was with us for a total of two minutes before he left again and informed us that he would make his return within one to two hours. Almost three hours later he returned to tell us everything was fine and that we could go home. The entire experience lasted for almost six hours, five to ten minutes actually with a doctor before we were on our way. Funny thing is, we both felt comforted after having gone to see him.

Although Becky had met this doctor over the past two pregnancies, I had not. I did not know him from any other man except for the fact that he wore a white coat and called himself doctor. Yet for some reason I have learned to trust certain strangers in the right context with my most valued possessions. Why is it we are able to trust perfect strangers everyday who deal with some of the most important facets of our lives, but we often struggle trusting those closest to us including God? I believe the short answer to this is because we have conditioned ourselves to do just that; trust those we are told to trust and wrestle with those we are told to distrust.

Since we were children, adults would tell us if we were in trouble to not speak to strangers, but to find a police officer who would help us. That officer would be no less of a stranger, but we trusted what our parents and teachers taught us. Trust a stranger, but don't trust God. Even if we are from a "good Christian home" we have been exposed to a solid distrust of God, although usually by accident. We watch our parents "solve" their own problems before going to prayer and from there the bleak reality that we cannot trust God is only enhanced. Our teachers tell us that we were created from cosmic goo or perhaps were descendants of the primate family. We are told that our existence was formed on chance+matter+time and that there is no purpose. We are told to distrust religious zealots and to put our faith in the science and philosophies of man and it would seem that on the whole, we bought it.

One of the greatest accusations against Christianity is that we promote blind faith. This is untrue and is also a very unhealthy thing to practice. our faith is far from blind, but it is because of what we have seen that we have faith at all. Faith is built on reason and logic, not emotional whims and gut feelings. It is based on the Word of God not the folly of man. For this reason I propose that yes we should, for the most part, trust flawed doctors with our health and welfare; but if we are able to trust a perfect stranger then why not put your trust in your creator. The One who knit you while you were still in your mothers womb. The One who knows how many hairs are on your head. When you are in need of help and no one on earth will be able to help you, trust the perfect physician.