AUNT SALLY is happy to provide free personal advice and opinions on a variety of subjects.
Need help with relationship problems, spiritual questions, parenting situations?
Ask Aunt Sally!
Send your questions or comments to Aunt Sally via email at [email protected] or by
regular mail at Ask Aunt Sally, Salvation Army Publications, 615 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, VA 22313.
Questions appropriate for printing in the War Cry will be answered through this column.
40
The War Cry | OCTOBER 2014
Dear Why Not:
No part of the world has escaped the
scourge of war. Since the beginning of
recorded time, there have been 14,531
wars costing close to 4 billion lives. Just
since the end of World War II in 1945
there have been about 250 major wars
killing over 50 million people. Surpris-
ingly, the world has only known peace
for around 300 years total.
One website for kids nicely summa-
rizes why people go to war: to better
their way of life and to protect their way
of life. And into those categories can fit
some of the actual reasons countries
went to war: financial gain, national in-
terests, religion, greed.
Seeking peaceful resolutions takes at
least two parties possessing a genuine
desire to solve the disputed problem
without bloodshed. Given the world's
war experience, apparently such peace-
seekers either are in short supply or
powerless to reach mutually acceptable
compromises.
There is another reason. War has been
called a consequence of sin. It is the
result of selfish desires emanating from
lives still mired in sin. Only God can bring
lasting peace. Only those nations and
individuals who obey His commandments
will know peace.
Dear Rejected:
It must be difficult to think that people
from various walks of life apparently don't
want to keep company with you because
of the crime you committed.
While in prison you are experiencing
daily a major consequence of your offense:
the loss of your freedom. But there are
others that come as well. Rejection is a
significant repercussion to those who en-
gage in violent crimes, and one they will
likely face for the rest of their lives.
Perhaps you are just coming to under-
stand that doing the time in prison is not
the only price you will have to pay. This
is a sobering reality you are facing. While
you are working through this new normal,
you will also want to turn your focus to
more positive goals. Your life is not over
but it is significantly different now. You
have an opportunity to invest in yourself
and your future.
First, you must explore what led you
to commit such an act, preferably with the
help of a professional. This should lead
to self-discovery, recovery and healing. It
will also give you tools to maintain self-
control in the future. If you're already
involved in such therapy, embrace it. Get
the most out of the experience that you can.
Second, avail yourself of prison services
and programs to rebuild your life as well
as to lay a foundation that will set you up
for success.
Most importantly, there is One who
willing gave up His life for your sin. He
loves you and desires a relationship with
you. He takes the messes we have made of
our lives and makes something beautiful of
them. Please consider giving Jesus Christ
a chance with your life. Talk to Him as you
would talk to a friend. Ask Him to take
control of your life and to walk with you
from this day forward. He will show you
the way to have a fulfilled, productive life
no matter where you are.
And finally, learn to have empathy with
those you victimized. While they may not
be in prison, they have suffered and con-
tinue to suffer because of your actions. Pray
for their healing as well as your own.
Dear Aunt Sally:
With war in so many places, why
can't we seem to seek more
peaceful resolutions?
-- Why Not Peace?
Dear Aunt Sally:
I am in prison for the crime of
rape. While Christians say they
love me and the reason for my in-
carceration doesn't matter, when
they do find out my crime, they
stop writing or ignore me when
they come to the prison to minister.
Even in prison, fellow prisoners
either become hostile towards
me or shun me altogether. How
do I handle this?.
-- Rejected by Many