Capital Punishment

There have been times when I said I would volunteer to pull the switch. There were some people that I thought were a waste of good air.

I have seen many good people die. I wondered why someone that is so good, so full of goodness, so loved by others, could die so quickly, so violently, so unnecessarily, and at the same time, see walking around people who are so evil, so full of terror and hate.

The switch has become my feelings about capital punishment. I see little reason for continuing the practice. My change has not come so much from feelings for the criminal, but for the families of the victims. To see good people who are in so much obvious grief, cry for the death of another, as if that will bring relief. I don't want to see a good family asking for the death of anyone. If the option is not there, they will not beg for relief by dinging their souls.

I don't know what I would hope for if it was my family that was injured. Make me put on my seatbelt and spare me from hurting myself more. Tell me that I need to grieve in my own heart and my own way. Let some other take up the ax of punishment. Tell me to look for answers that will bring me peace.

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace"