The omelet, the cake & the slain, used as directed.

Every morning like millions of other families I make myself an omelet with some cheese and toast, as a treat maybe I’ll add some left over steak or ham to change it up.  I’m no chef but every morning I sit down and enjoy the meal I’ve made.  I appreciate it in my own way, small recognition for a skill that to some would be considered novice and by others a great accomplishment.  None the less I use my kitchen, my utensils and what I’ve learned and the outcome is my desire, my accomplishment.

Down the street from me a good friend of mine Vicky, runs a bakery.  A mere block from my house I can see the lights on every morning when I let out my dogs.  Inside at the wee hours while I’m still fast asleep Vicky makes what I can only dream of.  A magic is crafted on a daily basis with the very same tools I use to make my omelet, the end result however is something very different.  That bakery under Vicky’s wizardry makes tiered wedding cakes that reach for the heavens, with handmade decorations that almost make is seem shameful to eat.  Small cupcakes, bears claws and treats I can’t even pronounce fill a display case and wait for an eager customer to taste them.  Every morning I use my tools to make my omelet and every morning Vicky uses the very same tools to fill her bakery.

Much further away or closer I can’t be sure, in a dark place something horrible that most people can't understand is happening.  The very tools that I use every day to cut my steak or Vicky uses to slice her bread and chop fruit; those very same tools are cutting flesh.  As I smile at my accomplishment, as Vicky sells her masterpieces, some person stands over another human being and watches the life fade from their eyes and in it a murderer finds joy.  All these people stand with the same tools in hand, all these people use the tools for how they see fit, been taught or have learned, all with very different outcomes, in each of their eyes different accomplishments.

A soldier passes, inside a funeral home a family grieves, a preacher consoles them, the loss, fear, remorse and love is shared among friends and family.  Outside that same soldiers funeral protesters march, signs are held high cheering his death, touting it as god’s wrath.  Rage, hate and scorn are their lecture and the emotion they share.  All the people reacting to the soldiers death craft very different messages, preach very different sermons, the tool however, a bible, is no different.

We each choose how we use the tools provided.  The tools do not dictate us, nor the outcomes, accomplishments or results of their use.  A knife in my hand will not tear flesh, because I wield it, I am the one who holds responsibility for the work it will do.  How we choose to use the tools we are given will dictate how we and sometimes the world will be interpreted by others. 

The bible is merely that, a tool provided by a god who knew of his imperfect creations.  A book written by those imperfect creations to send his message, a message that has been adjusted for the ages, and used for very different purposes.  Does that make it wrong, or is it a test?  A tool given to humanity to see what will be created with its use.  A tool that we are responsible for in the end, a tool that’s accomplishments or failures solely rests on each of our individual shoulders.  In the end will judgement be upon how we used that tool, how we spread it's message?

One last example, walk up to a family dog and hold your hand chest high, open your palm face down toward the loyal pup.  Do this to my dogs and a tail will wag in anticipation of being pet or a well placed scratching of the ear.  Try it with another dog, a beaten dog and it will cower in retreat.   Odds are it won't be expecting a friendly pat on the head but instead something much worse.  A beaten dog will fear the hand of the kindest soul, because it only knows the pain a hand can cause.  Same tool, different result.

Take the tools at hand and do with them what you will, preach what you think, but look around and understand that many people are using that same tool to create very different things, send very different messages.  We take direction from no one but ourselves, and we will have no one to hold accountable in the end but ourselves.  When using/preaching the bible you are responsible, you are in control of what it will create or destroy, encourage or defeat.  So what is the end result when put to your hands, hate, fear or love?  Which do you think was the desired outcome of that tool?