Just as the lessons from Hitler and Stalin remain remotely etched in our national conscience, so too must we remember the lessons of bin Laden. The man lived and died as a coward. He who inspired young, idealistic Muslim men to offer their lives as a sacrifice, himself refused to lead the way. Seems like I remember Jesus, the embodiment of all goodness, told his followers they must take up the cross. He then, with jutted jaw, set his face toward Jerusalem and voluntarily died there on that gruesome instrument. Like two contrasting shades of color, one light and the other darkness, Jesus lives for eternity. Osama, on the other hand, died tragically epitomizing the black, bottomless pit into which evil casts its dastardly, deceived fools.
In addition, we learned that bin Laden faced his fate hiding behind a woman's skirt. How fitting. The humorous scenario strongly reminds us of bin Laden's true character. He was a teenager in a man's clothing. Indeed immorality makes adolescent cowards of us all. Loose living (to use ancient preacher rhetoric) temporarily provides euphoria. Selfless, Christ-like sacrifice brings on the pain. We don't like pain. Therefore, we try to avoid it all cost. Adults eventually realize life is painful. It goes with the territory. Immoral people use nefarious pleasures as a drug to numb their existential existence. When faced with a roadblock to their pleasure, they run away from the interference instead of surmounting it.
In fact, immorality opens a confidence void. Jesus, instinctively knew God's will and acquiesced to it. In the end, he boldly held his head up, lifted his shoulders, and marched off to face his fate. Immoral people, however, live in fear of integrity's light. Paranoia, second guessing, and shoulder gazing all accompany immorality. Bin Laden's adolescence eventually lead to a legion of pain. He spurned electronic devices and found himself imprisoned in a compound surrounded by fifteen foot walls of his own making-an illustration of his soul's rat infested prison.
So, today we heartily celebrate. All that is good, pure, and just, won a resounding battle last night. And, we need to celebrate. Budget deficits, personal fiscal woes, and weak national leadership made us spiritually hungry for a victory. Like a team on a losing streak we finally won a pivotal game that may potentially place us, once again, on the winning track. We are Americans. We do not lose. We do not play for a losing team. We have been winners, and we will continue to win as long as we exalt eternal moral truths.