October 9 Massacre

photo courtesy sxc.hu

Okay, so blogging etiquette dictates that when something major happens--like Copts massacred in Cairo--I should say something. I should write up a little piece about what I think and what should be done, etc.

The problem is I'm Coptic. I live life with the assumption that everything I do will one day become an excuse for someone to kill me. You think I'm kidding?

I live with the assumption that when I say I'm a Copt and speak as a Copt, I better be saying something that honors my heritage and would be acceptable to both His Holiness Pope Shenouda and every other Copt in the world (talk about pressure). I live with the assumption that it's better to be silent, to not speak about these issues, except to the person--ahem, the Person--who can do something about it. And I have Bible verses to back me.

Pope Kyrillos VI is my patron saint (along with St. Moses the Black). Pope Kyrillos is very famous for this saying:
"Be very, very reassured, and leave the matter to the One who controls the matter."

I'm sure if I had the Arabic version with me now, I'd give you an even better translation.

So the fact is that I'm very, very reassured. I'm fasting, I'm praying, and I know that the only One who can do anything about anything is God. Not the people at the White House (good luck with that), not SCAF or any other Egyptian organization, not the Pope, not your local priest. Really. I mean, really, really: God is in control.

So I'm fasting and I'm praying. I'm not fasting for the dead--who have already received their crowns. I may be praying for the wounded--they will have the toughest years to come in healing from their physical and mental scars, as well as providing for their families in the meantime. But mostly I'm fasting and praying for MYSELF.

God has control over the rest of the world and its problems, and I trust Him fully to handle that. But I have some control over myself and that is where I need guidance and help. "Be the change you want to see in the world," Gandhi said. I'm not sure where to start. That's where God comes in. That's where prayer and fasting come in. I'm the one who needs to grow and change and improve.

I'm not saying sit back, relax, and don't bother doing anything in response. I'm saying fast and pray first and last. And if you don't, don't be surprised that nothing changes within you or without in the world.