Many Ways to Kill Loved Ones and Even Silence Love Itself

Published March 31, 1983. Scarcely a day goes by that we do not hear on the radio, see on television, or read in the newspaper about murder. Either it has occurred, someone is being sought for it, or a trial for it is underway. And certainly murder is a heinous crime.

It has recently been noted that murders are not always committed by strangers lurking in the dark as we see on so many late-night television shows. Murders are frequently committed by people who know each other. Often the crime is enacted in a moment of rage or anger between two acquaintances. And on occasion, we hear of murder within families – spouses, parents, brothers, and sisters. It is a tragic commentary on contemporary times.

Taking the life of another human being dates back as far as recorded history. In fact, one of the Ten Commandments, written thousands of years ago, simply says, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:3). The commandment seems even more relevant at the present time.

There are, however, relatively few individuals, percentage wise, in the United States who take the life of another human being. Maybe one or two percent of the total population. Even among those who believe in physical force as a means of implementing justice or control, there are few individuals who would sanction the termination of another person's life. But physical abuse is but one way to “kill.” There are other ways apparently used by a much larger segment of our society.

Consider the following essay written by Shanti Niliya. It is titled “Thou Shalt Not Kill; What Does It Mean?

Yesterday I killed . . . my son’s joy . . . in the victory of his team. I complained about his dirty clothes . . . torn at the seam. The day before I killed my daughter’s pride in the dress she made . . . I pointed out its faults, then added faint words of praise. One day I killed a friendship . . . turned affection to hate. I misunderstood, that’s all, but it was too late.

I killed my spouse’s love. But not with a mighty blow . . . It died bit by bit, year by year, so slowly. Tonight I saw the light of love, and slowly in her look when she reached toward me with her hand.  And I picked up a book.

Oh God of the resurrection, take me by the hand and teach me how to truly love and lovingly understand.

This Easter Season we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Perhaps it would be appropriate, as Shanti Niliya noted in his essay, to resurrect many of His teachings, if they no longer survive in our daily lives. And paramount among those teachings is the one noted by John: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

Such words seem even more appropriate for husband and wives as we celebrate the Resurrection during the Easter Season.