God Weeps

My heart is troubled by the atrocities in Paris and the storm of darkness that is brewing around the world, pitting man against man in the name of God.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that the things that unite us are much stronger than the things that divide us.

Through the generations, from culture to culture, religion to religion, Moses to Mohammed, Buddha to Christ, whenever men ask the fundamental question of existence -- "Why are we here?" -- the answer is the same.

Christians are bound to "love one another as I have loved you."

The Torah reminds us "deeds of love are worth as much as all the commandments of the law."

Followers of Islam are taught, "Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind."

The religions of the East say the same thing in different ways. Buddhists are taught to "hurt none by word or deed and be consistent in your well-doing."

Confucius said, "He who loves best his fellow man is serving God in the holiest way he can."

There is probably no issue with broader agreement: There is a piece in each of us that is God's piece. It is the part of ourselves we call our humanity.

This is the piece that responds with care and compassion. This is the part of us that reaches out with kindness and concern.

This is the part that now weeps as we are again compelled to consider man's inhumanity to man.