Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:9 (NIV)
Twisted Disconnection – Keepers – Series 2 – Part 6
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The story of Cain and Abel is about what happens when we forget that we belong to each other (a nod to Mother Teresa’s quote). It’s about what happens to a soul when their creative desires and passions begin to own them; when their achievements and possessions and lands and rights become more important than their connection to another human being.
And gosh, our world is sick with that at the moment. We’re so busy proving ourselves and building our portfolios and securing our borders, that we don’t look each other in the eye anymore. We bring gifts to God (read: what we make and do and put out into the world through our living and loving), not out of a sense of fullness and generosity, but in a way to keep what's ours, ours.
Disconnection is killing the world we live in, our beautiful planet, and literally, us.
What's most challenging about the Cain and Abel story is this:
How do we not treat Cain like the scapegoat for our own Cain-like tendencies?
PRACTICE:
Look to Cain and see the opportunity to face yourself, your darkness, and take responsibility, knowing that THIS is the way to shut the door to sin, and keep your life open to grace and connection no matter how much or little you have, how successful you are or not; no matter what gift you bring before the master of the universe and all that he has made.
And second, we must turn our energies towards Abel. In our anger of his murder, we want Cain to pay. We want violence exacted upon the ‘Cains' of the world.
Retribution. Vengeance. Which just becomes a loop that keeps this twisted disconnection in play.
So what do we do with this story?
Let it live within you. Let it work its way into you. Give it a place to stay. Let it answer these questions for you whenever they’re asked:
Am I my brother's keeper?
Who is my neighbor?
Am I responsible for what happens over there? To them?
“It (the story) compels us to pay attention to the words of the question itself – to recognize that it is not only a query about Abel’s whereabouts but also an insistence that he is our brother.
As common descendants of Adam, we are not free to shed our brotherhood with Abel. We are simply not at liberty to allow the gulfs created by national, cultural, linguistic, religious, or racial differences to obscure our responsibility to those who are hurt or violated. Instead, we must step up to this haunting question whenever it is asked and answer resolutely:
“I AM my brother’s keeper.” – Rachel Farbiarz. Becoming Every Brothers Keeper. www.myjewishlearning.com.
Written by Liz Milani
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