Another Answer to Cain

Many centuries ago, Cain was questioned concerning the whereabouts of his brother, and replied defensively: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”18 To many these five words still mean what they should mean, and to others they are simply a stock phrase that has been used so much that it has lost its edge. But even if we were to think that the phrase itself had been overworked, still we would not be justified in assuming that the misfortunes of humankind do not pertain to us. A large part of our daily diet consists of reading about and listening to accounts of the troubles of others. So numerous and terrible and persistent are they that our feelings and reactions may have become dulled and if these things haven’t closely touched us, we are inclined to be only passingly disturbed; we are sympathetic and wish that something could be done about it, and then we go on with the routine of our lives and forget largely what we have read or what we have heard until the news of another day breaks upon us. Even if tragedy has touched someone we personally know even then the acuteness of our sorrow and concern is likely to become quickly spent. Indeed, tragedy is pretty much an intellectual matter until we live it. Like hunger and thirst and cold and loneliness they are all just words that don’t mean much until they become part of our personal experience. But let such things come home to visit us in our own lives, and then our cries go up, and our thoughts begin to encompass the misfortunes of others then we become impressed with the fact that we all belong to the same eternal family of men and share a common heritage, a common purpose in life, a common Father, and a common existence in spite of the circumstances which today may deal with one more kindly than another. All this is just another way of answering Cain’s question. It may seem trite and worn, but, like all of the other great truths of the universe, it must be said again and again.