Fear and relief

As I listened
to President Obama's calmly triumphant announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed and
"justice has been served"--and to the reports of celebrations in American
streets--I tried to sort out my own responses to the surprising news.
Throughout the morning, my inbox filled with e-mails from friends near and far.
These reactions, unlike those of the U.S. government and most Americans, were
more ambivalent.

A friend at Yale reminded
me of Proverbs 24:17, Ezekiel 33:11 and Matthew 5:44, adding this:

After
9/11 I found it very hard to bring myself to pray for Usama bin Laden. But by
God's grace I did because Jesus said I must. And though I am tempted to rejoice
today, I will not because Jesus said I must not.