topic of bullying - let's get into it

In the next couple blogs I would like to address the topic of bullying. I will show you down road how bullying has affected my life. To be sure I was a child when it first happened and I was confused and just took a beating. That incident would forge in my mind a definite response. It has become a part of me in many ways defined who I am. I have gone to different ways with it. For sure I fought back, but now for many years I have tried to understand, confronted and somehow bring healing to it. Be of no mistake bullying has to be confronted. We can't wish it away, avoid it, or even blame others. It is so big it calls for each one of us to respond. 

In Luke 10:25-37 there is a great story of the good Samaritan. It is worth another read to become familiar with the story in the details. This is a story with the focuses on the response, but the cause was bullying motivation of robbery.

We can have words to build up on another or we can have caustic and harmful words to tear each other down. Our actions can do the same thing. Think of the robbers who chose to use violence to rob this man. Read Proverbs 1:10-19, kids today I'm being called into such violent groups. Consider verse 11, If they say — “Come with us! Let's set an ambush and kill someone. Let's attack some innocent person just for fun!” Two disturbing trends today are the game of ambush kids are doing and attack of human waste on an innocent. Social media gives the motivation as a look at the number of hits for this obnoxious behavior. Will the action go viral? How can we stop it?

Reading the responses to the abuse of the autistic child we want social justice. The act was criminal and has consequences with law. But, if we want to see change I think we have to look at a more fundamental problem. 
I think we have to explore and encourage parents to be the first response to such actions. In parenting we may have to deal with our children and their immature behaviors. Sometimes their behaviors cross the line and are harmful. Other times their behaviors are immature and childish. A parent has to be able to see both parts. If we don't see when our kids cross the line we may not be dealing with reality. But on the other hand we don't understand some of their behavior reflects how old they are or lack of experience, recalling our own experiences when we were their age we may lack compassion. Parents need to step up when confronting both sides of the bullying. When our kids do wrong and hurt others we have to hold them accountable and we have to be responsible to discipline the wrong behavior. In this case, the behavior broke the law. The parent facing up to the wrong deed can help their child learn and change and face the consequences of their behavior.

Many of my friends posted Drew Carey offering a reward to find the kids who became bizarre with the bucket challenge as they bullied an autistic child. Clearly they crossed line seriously enough to be prosecuted by law. Drew clearly heard of the attack and did something about it. I hope he follows it through with his talent and wit to help those who are attack and hurt; to learn how to stand up or find those who will stand with them, and begin to help healing and recovery. He very definitely has the ability to address people who are thinking about crossing the line and hurting people. There is wrong behavior.

Can you recall in your youth doing a prank that you thought was funny but somehow really hurt somebody? What did you learn about it? Did you ever try to make it right? On the other side of the coin have you ever been hurt by a prank? What did you learn about? How did you confront the bully and didn't solve the problem? Or there was no resolution how did that affect you? Human life is messy. Did mom and dad help sort it out? Or was this something that you were alone about? Are you angry about it? If so, choose your favorite cuss word and with a smile just say it. Laugh with me right now. Doesn't it feel better? At least you have to say is the first time in minister Took time to swear with you. Keep walking