The tragic massacre in Connecticut this past week has inflicted horrible pain on the families and friends of those directly involved. It has also produced shock and anger in Americans everywhere else. It is difficult to imagine the feelings that I would have if one of my children were to have become a victim of such a tragedy. Unfortunately it seems that there are a number of people that find ways to react inappropriately with respect to this event. In thinking about this, the purpose of this post is to identify how not to react to tragedy.
One of the first reactions that spread was that gun control laws would have prevented this. Of course, these comments almost always come from those that favored gun control laws before the tragedy occurred. Unfortunately, some people do not see that in expressing their well-meaning desire to prevent gun-related crime, they are being insensitive. When someone experiences pain, the last thing that they want to hear is the equivalent of "I told you so." Gun advocates may mean well when they talk about their desire to restrict access to firearms, but claiming that legal restrictions would have saved the lives of victims is disrespectful.
Of course some people in reading this might be saying "that right-wing nut job ward preacher is probably just worried about his guns." I do not deny that I am a gun owner, and I confess that I find people blaming weapons instead of perpetrators to be incredibly short-sighted. If laws against murder have not protected people from being murdered, then why would laws against weapons protect people against weapons? Also, mass killings did not begin with the invention of gunpowder.
On the other side of the political spectrum, there have been individuals that want to blame video games for shootings. Just as those on the left are quick to find something to blame, so too are those on the right that believe that if only video games had not been invented, perhaps the tragedies that have affected schools and theaters would not have occurred. Such individuals point out how killing can be glorified in these games. Of course, the problem is that murder pre-dates video games, and has been glorified in other forms of media and literature (including the Bible) for longer than English has been a language. Though it is true that violence has been wrongfully glorified in many forms of media, there are many people who enjoy James Bond films or games without feeling the urge to shoot up a school. The motivations and causes behind those that do feel such urges are likely more complex than any one explanation.
Even among the most religious individuals, there exist some who claim that if only people were more accepting of God in society and in our education systems that he would have protected those who became victims. As well-meaning as these individuals may be, and as important as it is for individuals and societies to accept God, this is simply another form of "I told you so." Just as gun control advocates are misguided, so to are religious persons who think that citizens will be guaranteed protection with greater religious piety. Being a devout Christian can never be considered a 'get out of problems free card' or a path to life on easy street. Bad things happen to good people all the time.
How many good deeds do such individuals believe are enough to entitle them to unlimited divine intervention? Religiously speaking, almost no one has lived well enough to actually deserve protection from all harm or misfortune. The one person who did live flawlessly, and could claim that he deserved a life free from harm was the one who suffered more than any one else... That was Jesus Christ, and he in fact suffered because of every one else! There has never been a greater injustice than this, and it is fundamental to Christian faith.
As well as anyone may mean when they express condolences, regret, anger, or ideas for preventing similar tragedies in the future... none of these things can bring back the victims. None of these things have power to restore the lives of children to their grief-stricken parents.
In the end, there is only one power that can bring them back. There is only one power that can put life back into the children that have fallen, and peace in the hearts of those that lost loved ones. The name of that power is Jesus Christ.
When Martha professed to Jesus that if he had been there, her brother Lazarus would not have died, he replied with perhaps the most powerful declaration that has ever been made:
"...I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die..." (John 11:25-26)
Jesus Christ defeated death itself when he was resurrected. He extends his power to every man, woman, and child that has ever lived on the earth. Additionally, his power can bind husbands to their wives and children to their parents such that family relationships do not need to end at death. He literally has power and authority to heal every wound and restore everything that may be lost in any calamity.
Particularly for those of us who are indirectly affected by shootings, our role is not to trumpet "I told you so" or any of its equivalents. Our role is not to find something to blame or come up with a solution to every problem.
It is so much better to exercise faith and offer prayers to the one that already has a solution to every problem, a plan to overcome any difficulty, and the power to restore everything to its proper place. It is our role to help those that have been hurt as best we can until they receive every gift that Jesus Christ has prepared for them.
Showing posts with label #video games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #video games. Show all posts
Monday, December 17, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Legendary: Lessons from Zelda
The frequency of my posts have decreased the past couple of months. I could certainly blame the business of the holiday season, but the real reason is the release of two games that I have been thoroughly enjoying.
One of them is Star Wars: The Old Republic. I love the concept of embracing the light side and rejecting the dark side. Unlike other games in the same genre, this truly gives the feeling that all the enemies I am facing are more than grinding for levels, but that I am protecting the defenseless, liberating the captive, and where possible, extending mercy and forgiveness to those that have gone astray.
The other game is the one on which I would like to focus. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the latest game in the Zelda franchise. This franchise is close to my heart for several reasons. Zelda is the first game I recall seeing on the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1987. I was almost immediately captivated by its complexity, its environment, and of course its famous music. Through the years, each new Zelda game has provided a rich and rewarding experience.
For those that may be familiar with older posts, don't worry: this is still a religious blog. It may be difficult for some to immediately draw a positive connection between faith and video games. Nevertheless, I intend to do so. If Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can speak in general conference about lessons that can be applied from non-religious literary works or even (shudder) musicals (Elder Oaks, April 2003), then I feel justified in so doing.
For those unfamiliar with the Legend of Zelda, the story has significantly expanded since the franchise was first introduced. A critical element, common to most (arguably all) games in the series is the Triforce. The legend goes that the world of Hyrule (the setting for most games) was created by three supreme golden goddesses: Din, goddess of power, Nayru, goddess of wisdom, and Farore, goddess of courage. After the work of creation, these goddesses left the world. In the place where they departed, they left three golden triangles representing their power and influence to govern the world. If a person gained these triangles, they would possess the entire Triforce, and they would have power to make their will a reality. The only apparent safeguard against misuse of the Triforce that was left by the Goddesses was to measure the heart of the person that obtained it. If that person's heart was in balance, then they would maintain control of the entire Triforce. If that person's heart was not in balance, then they would only retain that part with which they were most closely aligned, and the other two parts would be placed inside or made available to two others chosen by fate.
In the most beloved game of the franchise, Ocarina of Time, an evil king of thieves lays his hands on the Triforce coveting power, and retains only the Triforce of Power. Princess Zelda is given the Triforce of Wisdom and goes into hiding. Link, the boy fated to be the hero of the Goddesses, is put in a position to become the keeper of the Triforce of Courage.
Defining the actual "Legend" of Zelda is an argument held in nerdy circles. I interpret it to be this: the Hero of Courage helps the Princess of Wisdom overcome seemingly impossible odds to defeat the tyrannical King of Power.
Another important point is that in the various games, even though the characters "Link" and "Zelda" exist, they are actually different people in different ages fighting potentially different enemies. I say potentially, because there are different super villains in the series, but many of them keep coming back. The most famous of these is Ganon.
A question that frequently arises is why if there are supreme beings that created the world, law to govern it, and creatures to uphold the laws... where are they? Why did they seemingly abandon the world? Why do they allow tyrants, thieves, murderers, and other power-hungry war-mongers to gain even part of their power? Why do they not prevent evil?
In Windwaker, another game in the series, the villain Ganondorf boldly declares to Link as he points out how the world was swallowed by a great flood "Your Gods destroyed you!" It is difficult not to think so.
The concept is not unique to the fictional world of Hyrule. In the highly political climate in the United States, it is easy to be frustrated with someone if not everyone in the government. It is easy to feel discouragement when we observe guilty men escape justice because of technicalities, while some that do good are wrongfully oppressed. It may even seem that the God that made this world appears to have left it to those that covet power. There are few days that go by without news of violent crime, war, and hatred. Why does God not prevent these evils? Why does he not make right these wrongs?
Those that have the patience and perseverance to play through the challenges in the Legend of Zelda perhaps know the answer to these questions.
There is no dungeon without a map. There is a way out of the lost woods. Every boss has a weakness.
Each palace that is explored yields new equipment and abilities. Each nightmare that is defeated increases the vitality of the hero that vanquishes it.
Even worlds that seem overwhelmed with enemies are not void of friends, and showing kindness to people will almost always pay off.
If it were not for Gohma, Dodongo, and Barinade, Link might be stuck with three hearts. Helping round up stray cuccos provides a rich reward.
God did not abandon the world he made. And while we may not know exactly when he will return, his will is made real by heroes who everyday show courage in doing the right thing. In the end, no matter how difficult, it always pays off.
Evil is allowed to be so that heroes can be made, and their purposes and destinies be fulfilled. "For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know only in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)
One of them is Star Wars: The Old Republic. I love the concept of embracing the light side and rejecting the dark side. Unlike other games in the same genre, this truly gives the feeling that all the enemies I am facing are more than grinding for levels, but that I am protecting the defenseless, liberating the captive, and where possible, extending mercy and forgiveness to those that have gone astray.
The other game is the one on which I would like to focus. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the latest game in the Zelda franchise. This franchise is close to my heart for several reasons. Zelda is the first game I recall seeing on the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1987. I was almost immediately captivated by its complexity, its environment, and of course its famous music. Through the years, each new Zelda game has provided a rich and rewarding experience.
For those that may be familiar with older posts, don't worry: this is still a religious blog. It may be difficult for some to immediately draw a positive connection between faith and video games. Nevertheless, I intend to do so. If Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can speak in general conference about lessons that can be applied from non-religious literary works or even (shudder) musicals (Elder Oaks, April 2003), then I feel justified in so doing.
For those unfamiliar with the Legend of Zelda, the story has significantly expanded since the franchise was first introduced. A critical element, common to most (arguably all) games in the series is the Triforce. The legend goes that the world of Hyrule (the setting for most games) was created by three supreme golden goddesses: Din, goddess of power, Nayru, goddess of wisdom, and Farore, goddess of courage. After the work of creation, these goddesses left the world. In the place where they departed, they left three golden triangles representing their power and influence to govern the world. If a person gained these triangles, they would possess the entire Triforce, and they would have power to make their will a reality. The only apparent safeguard against misuse of the Triforce that was left by the Goddesses was to measure the heart of the person that obtained it. If that person's heart was in balance, then they would maintain control of the entire Triforce. If that person's heart was not in balance, then they would only retain that part with which they were most closely aligned, and the other two parts would be placed inside or made available to two others chosen by fate.
In the most beloved game of the franchise, Ocarina of Time, an evil king of thieves lays his hands on the Triforce coveting power, and retains only the Triforce of Power. Princess Zelda is given the Triforce of Wisdom and goes into hiding. Link, the boy fated to be the hero of the Goddesses, is put in a position to become the keeper of the Triforce of Courage.
Defining the actual "Legend" of Zelda is an argument held in nerdy circles. I interpret it to be this: the Hero of Courage helps the Princess of Wisdom overcome seemingly impossible odds to defeat the tyrannical King of Power.
Another important point is that in the various games, even though the characters "Link" and "Zelda" exist, they are actually different people in different ages fighting potentially different enemies. I say potentially, because there are different super villains in the series, but many of them keep coming back. The most famous of these is Ganon.
A question that frequently arises is why if there are supreme beings that created the world, law to govern it, and creatures to uphold the laws... where are they? Why did they seemingly abandon the world? Why do they allow tyrants, thieves, murderers, and other power-hungry war-mongers to gain even part of their power? Why do they not prevent evil?
In Windwaker, another game in the series, the villain Ganondorf boldly declares to Link as he points out how the world was swallowed by a great flood "Your Gods destroyed you!" It is difficult not to think so.
The concept is not unique to the fictional world of Hyrule. In the highly political climate in the United States, it is easy to be frustrated with someone if not everyone in the government. It is easy to feel discouragement when we observe guilty men escape justice because of technicalities, while some that do good are wrongfully oppressed. It may even seem that the God that made this world appears to have left it to those that covet power. There are few days that go by without news of violent crime, war, and hatred. Why does God not prevent these evils? Why does he not make right these wrongs?
Those that have the patience and perseverance to play through the challenges in the Legend of Zelda perhaps know the answer to these questions.
There is no dungeon without a map. There is a way out of the lost woods. Every boss has a weakness.
Each palace that is explored yields new equipment and abilities. Each nightmare that is defeated increases the vitality of the hero that vanquishes it.
Even worlds that seem overwhelmed with enemies are not void of friends, and showing kindness to people will almost always pay off.
If it were not for Gohma, Dodongo, and Barinade, Link might be stuck with three hearts. Helping round up stray cuccos provides a rich reward.
God did not abandon the world he made. And while we may not know exactly when he will return, his will is made real by heroes who everyday show courage in doing the right thing. In the end, no matter how difficult, it always pays off.
Evil is allowed to be so that heroes can be made, and their purposes and destinies be fulfilled. "For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know only in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)