Monsters, Demons, and Heroes...Do we see them the same as God?

"Know that there are certain very lofty and sublime things in the site of God that certain people sometimes think of as worthless and contemptible; there are others that are esteemed and remarkable to people that God considers extremely worthless and contemptible."

~St Francis of Assisi 

 Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day set aside by the LGBT and friends community to remember those lost to us simply because they were "different" or transgendered. Does God make mistakes? Does God see these people as worthless? 

The last few months we've had days of awareness, days of remembrance, and days of education about bullying. Most of the time bullying is centered upon being different. Different, as in, fat/skinny/ugly/retard/nerd/smart/stupid/black/white/brown/teacher's pet/latchkey kid/ or gay/queer/dyke/fag/lesbo....the list goes on and on. Does God make mistakes? Does God see these people as worthless? 

On the other hand, I can't help but read EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME, the fiasco and mess at Penn State. We hear about these man made "gods". Many people were hurt, not just the young victims. But still, many people hale these men as beautiful god-like heroes. I truly don't believe God sees anyone as worthless, but are these men acting out the lives God created for them? God created in them a thing of beauty when he gave them the gift of inspiring young men to be the best they can be. Yet somehow they twisted this and allowed themselves to become monsters instead. 

These are just a few worldly examples of what's going on right now. Humans often look with hate, scorn and disgust on those God gently and lovingly created to be different and add color and vibrancy to our world. Yet we allow ourselves to continue to look with awe and hero worship on men and women who have turned God's gifts into a means for cruelty. 

I hope and pray that while there are human monsters out there, no one is ever totally worthless. We, as children of God, can take these cruel and unjust situations and, not only learn from them, but help create a better world. A better world for young people who fall in love with other young people of the same gender, for young people whose gender of their heart and soul don't match the gender of their outside body, and for young people who just want to enjoy being the best they can be at playing a sport. 

I hear many people say these situations weigh heavy on their heart. That the pain for these young people hurt their soul. Tonight, I too, have a heavy heart, and my soul hurts. My soul hurts for the young people, my soul hurts for the adults who've lived with this pain for many years. My heart weighs heavy for the victims and at times I have to admit, my heart weighs heavy for the perpetrators/monsters. I can't help but wonder how they got to where they are. 

My question to you, and to myself tonight, is how do we begin to fix or heal any of these situations? How can we share the balm of God's love with one another?

     There Is a Balm in Gilead
  

(This is the version I learned growing up in the Lutheran Church. The singer in this video uses slightly different lyrics, but the idea of a balm of God's love for us to share has always been the same)

Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus and say, "He died for all."
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge, He’ll never refuse to lend.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.