Desensitization

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 3: 1-5 NKJV

Listening to one of my favorite radio programs today, I heard the news of a deadly shooting at the University of California in Los Angeles.  For a brief moment, I was more agitated at the interuption of my program than the events unfolding in Los Angeles.  Two people are dead, and I was upset that my radio show was pre empted by the news break.  Have I become that cold hearted, or have I just become desensitized to recent events in our society?  From mass shootings to crimes against humanity in other nations, it seems that nobody is protected from the evils of mankind.  It should be no secret that the more one is exposed to violence, the more that they will accept it as a normal occurance and never bat an eye to its horrors ever again.  What is it that makes us immune to the horrors of human behavior?  Of course, we know that eventually people will fall and fail.  We are not perfect, far from it.  Yes, we were created in our Lords likeness, but we also are free to choose how we will behave.  This free will is what seperates us from the rest of Gods creation.  Created in His image, yet free to choose our own path.  What path will we choose?  The idea that man is inheritantly wicked is one not based on truth.  For when Christ gave Himself on the cross, he washed the sins of all mankind, EVERYONE!  So, what of those sins of those who commit evil acts?  Well, have these people realized the gift that Jesus has given them, or have they not?  Obviously, if someone has zero knowledge that his sins are forgiven and that he has been blessed with the cleansing blood of Jesus, then he may not know the glory that now exists in him.  In fact, he may simply accept what the world tells him, that he is nothing but a filthy sinner!

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5: 7-9 NKJV

There are countless stories of soldiers who have had severe cases of battle fatigue.  It is said that one of the signs of this in a soldier is the "Thousand yard stare," where a young man will simply seem oblivious to the horror unfolding around him.  In essence, he has become desensitized to the violence of his surroundings.  On the battlefield for months on end, often with very little sleep and constant combat, it sometimes didn't  take long for some young infantrymen to crack under pressure.  In some cases they were pulled from the front lines, in others they were simply left to fight.  One can only imagine the stress felt by these men in battle.

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;  for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition; and gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
~King Henry V Prior to  the Battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415~

The United States Navy Seals have a brutal tradition.  With the intent being to create a warrior worthy of the UDT/SEAL creed, each and every recruit must endure a grueling 5 1/2 day ordeal appropriately named Hell Week.  It is during these 5 1/2 days that each man is tested through cold and wet conditions for the physical endurance and mental toughness needed to succeed in this fabled unit.  Their exploits are legendary, and so is that road they take to get there.  Many try, but many more ultimately volunteer to drop out.  It isn't for everyone obviously.  However, it is because of this rigorous selection process that the SEAL's are one of the worlds elite fighting units, for they have served with honor in every conflict from Vietnam forward.  They are the best of the best.  Of course, one of the reasons for their brutal training is to expose these men to that horror they will soon face.  What some call hell, these men choose to call home.

"Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing.  Moderation is for cowards.  I'm a lover, I'm a fighter, I'm a UDT/SEAL diver.  If you're feeling froggy you better jump because this frogman has been there, done that and is going back for more."
~Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane E Patton~
SEAL Delivery Vehicle team One ~ Deceased 6/28/2005 Afghanistan