After looking at Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:38 & 39 about not resisting an evil person and turning the proverbial ‘other cheek’, words from a song barged into my mind. In the musical Wicked, there is a song called “No One Mourns the Wicked”. We hear these words:
‘No one mourns the wicked...
And goodness knows, the wicked’s lives are lonely.
Goodness knows the wicked die alone.
It just shows when you’re wicked, you’re left only on your own.’
--lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Every time I hear the song and its words No one mourns the wicked I invariably think, “I do...I mourn.” And I do. I mourn for the life that wasn’t for those who hurt others and hurt themselves. I believe that we hold each other accountable and responsible for our choices and behaviors. I want dangerous, hurtful people to be behind bars where they can no longer inflict pain and ugliness on others. But, with the same breath, my heart mourns.
