Seriously?

Last night, I caught a glimpse of this video. The video shows students on a bus. Average, we can all relate to riding the bus. When a male student sits down in what appears to be the only empty seat, the student he sits with apparently doesn't want him sitting there. A few seconds go by and then all of the sudden, there's an angry student punching the other kid. Punching and punching and punching... the kid getting punched doesn't appear to even try to defend himself. Once that attack ends, another student comes along and starts punching this kid-AGAIN. So this young man is attacked not once but twice.

All the while, on a bus full of students, they just sit and watch. A couple "good intentioned" students attempt (barely) to restrain the boys doing the punching. But most of the students watch- laughing, or scared- their faces show different things. Finally, a young man rises from the back and steps to the defense of the young man being punched.

While the video really left me unsettled, it resonated in me. I guess there have been times in my life where I can really relate to the guy getting punched.

Minding his own business, the guy next to him punches him. REPEATEDLY.
NO ONE HELPS!
Instead, the crowd cheers, laughs, gasps in awe... NO ONE HELPS!
Then, when hitter #1 is done pounding on the kid... enter hitter #2.
NO ON HELPS!
Oh wait, here comes a guys and seems to "care".
Finally, someone gets these guys to stop punching.

WOWSER! I have felt like punches have flown out of no where and landed square on my jaw. I've felt they come unprovoked and randomly. And they come, one after the other- I'm defenseless. The punches keep coming and the crowd on the bus does nothing. Oh but wait, they send along another angry hitter to throw a few more blows. Heartbreaking!

I feel for this kid. I feel for all those kids on that bus, in fact.

1.) No one deserves to be attacked.
2.) No one has the right to attack.
3.) Why didn't more students step up when they knew what was going on was wrong?
4.) Did they even recognize this as wrong?

In life, this happens all the time. You may not be physically punching someone, but your words hit hard and your actions leave a mark. You may not be doing the hitting, but are you watching? Are you allowing the hitting to continue? And is it really okay to just watch- even if you justify it as "I don't want to get involved"?

My heart goes out to the boy. I'm guessing he's not "Mr. Popular". But that's not the point. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT.

NO ONE. Period.

I hear the boys got suspended. I'm thinking they many need a little more punishment than that.

I know that in this life, I am not defenseless. It feels like it some days, but I'm not alone. When the punches fly with ferocity and fists pound on my cheeks and blows take my breath away and knock me down, I figure there's a way to land on my feet again.

It just takes time.


Zephaniah 3:16-18 God Is Present Among You

"Don't be afraid.
Dear Melissa, The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
God's Promise."