The recent executions in Arkansas…

have once again made me think….am I for or against capital punishment?  I have read several responses to the recent executions in Arkansas. Most of them are from folks who have deep, emotional sympathy for the families of the victims who were murdered, which landed the perpetrators on death row.  Most of those comments are in agreement with the sentence and the executions.  Many of the comments include something like: “lethal injection is too easy for them.”  Meaning, they ought to be tortured in a similar way that they inflicted pain and ultimately death on their victims.  They are getting off way to easy.  Many include a sentence like: “may they rot in hell forever.”  Emotions are high…understandable. 

Not having experienced such a horrific event, I will not pass judgment on the pain and grief of those who have had to deal with the murder of someone they loved.  I really do not know what I would do or say.  It does leave me with some questions that are very difficult to process.

Does another person’s death ever pay the price for someone who was murdered?

Does the execution of the rightly convicted person make the pain any less, or does it in any way soothe the hurt they have caused?

We know an execution brings nobody back to life. We hear that all the time, but I think it is a pretty insensitive and shallow comment to one who has been so severely wronged and injured.

Is anger, pain and bitterness ever satisfied by retribution?

Is there really any such thing as closure?  Does execution produce it?

Why do we feel the need to kill them, as they have killed someone we care about?

Is focusing on, and carrying out punishment of the guilty a way to personal peace of heart and mind?

Does revenge lock a person into the emotional torture and prison the perpetrator created with their heinous action?

Is forgiveness the only way to peace of heart and mind?

Is forgiveness misunderstood by most of us, and therefore seemingly an impossible task?

Are we content to allow the repulsive actions of a twisted individual to control our own thoughts, feelings and comments?

Do I want what I deserve, or do I need mercy?

It is so easy to simply respond out of the anger and emotions brought on by terrible, terrible crimes of senseless hate, perverted passion, greed, selfishness and depravity.  However, those responses seem to do nothing but stoke the fires of hate and anger.  It doesn’t call us to a higher level of love, compassion and understanding.  What are we to do? I have a few friends, whom I love, who must endure and somehow process these kinds of nightmares. All I feel for them is deep, genuine compassion…not judgment.

No easy answers…many hard questions…but somehow, in the end, mercy triumphs over judgment.

The Gatekeeper
Mark Morgan