To Russia with love

Two bombs exploded this week in the streets of Volgograd, formerly known as Stalingrad, Russia killing 31 people and seriously injuring many others.  The backdrop to this tragedy is the 2014 Winter Olympic Games scheduled in Sochi, Russia, 400 miles away.  A Chechen Muslim rebel leader has reportedly called on Muslims to attack civilians and to prevent the Olympics from occurring as he is quoted as saying that the games are, “Satanic dancing on the bones of our ancestors.”

This is news from a world away.  Just more senseless suicide bombings.  It looks like the Muslims are up to it again.  Isn’t it a shame that it might affect the Olympics?  And after that thirty second sound bite we move on to news in the entertainment world.  Wait . . . is that the extent of our concern about this?

What sort of deeply felt conviction makes a human being blow himself (or in this case, herself) up for the singular purpose of killing, maiming and terrorizing others?  What is the story of the Chechen Muslim people and their connection to the Sochi region?  What is it about the Olympic Games in this location that inflame such anger and hostility from these individuals?  Is it a fair question to ask what the ultimate cost will be, in human lives, of these games?

These are all important concerns for each one of us.  Yes, this is on the other side of the world and yes, it is all very complex.  And yes, it would be very hard to measure any difference you or I could make in the matter.  Yet, others will make decisions and take actions that will influence the outcomes to the events that will unfold in the coming weeks.  Will any of these decisions and actions by guided by love?  And by this I mean with recognition of the love that God has for all of his children. 

The Olympic Games provide extraordinary opportunities to bridge the differences between peoples and cultures.  That is, at least for those people and cultures who are invited to the games, or have the economic capacity or desire to compete.  Clearly there are those who will remain outside of the fraternity.  That, I believe, is at the crux of the question.

In the meantime, Russia and much of the rest of the world are likely to frame the issue solely as how to most efficiently remove the threat against the games.  I am loath to guess what degree of success decisions based on such a narrow view will meet.  It will therefore remain for you and me to take up our duty (our cross) to stay informed and to pray that the peace and wisdom of Christ may find its way into the hearts of those making the decisions (on all sides).  Let us pray that the evil that has already been perpetrated over the years on the people in this region will not be compounded by further acts of malice.