Redemption

From the beginning, there was sin. Sin lives. Inescapable. From those who believe in a heaven and hell to those who believe in reincarnation to the atheists who resent it all and seek psychoanalysis to fix the past, we all believe there is something ill in each of us. Sin is original, but not unique.

We label it, judge it, condemn it, and excuse it. We forgive it and punish it. On the rarer occasions we tolerate it. Most often of all we seek it. Engagement in sin is as universal as the desire to crush it. The belief in balance in the universe, in karma is a need. Without the ever-disappointing goal of justice, we feel doomed.

As with most of life, time reveals it to be about the journey, not the destination. We struggle on “finding justice where we can,” “fighting the good fight,” “keeping the faith.” When we come across those among us who seem outside the quest we are disheartened, particularly when they appear succeeding where we fail. Politicians rise to the heights of power and dimwitted prostitutes earn thousands. When they’re found out the people who pay most are those who were victims. Citizens, spouses, children. It seems unfair they get a second chance.

They deserve it. It is the sinned against who forgive. It is the sinless alone who can dole out the proper punishment. We do the best we can. We balance our flaws and emotion against reason and pragmatics. In showing mercy or vengeance, we look to redeem ourselves, to be more the solution than the problem. In our best moments we search within. It is in that search we find both discomfort at the sight of our dereliction and the satisfaction of empowerment.

The world is not an evil place. Our everlasting quest for progress, failing repeatedly within each generation but triumphing greatly in the generations that follow, is proof enough.