I use the social network site Facebook to keep up with family and friends. It’s nice to see what’s going on in folk’s lives, to see if they have joys to relate or problems that need prayer. It’s also a good way to find out people’s opinions on topics of the day.

Because the people I have “friend-ed” on the site are, for the most part, actual friends, I usually agree with most of the opinions and ideas that I read. But a few days ago, I came across something that disturbed me as a person and especially as a Christian.

To make a long story short, the recent hurricane which went up the east coast dumped a lot of rain in north eastern states. People were caught by surprise when their homes and businesses flooded, and unfortunately, one of those businesses was a pet store. Sadly, many of the animals in the store perished before they could be rescued.

Some among my “friends” made disparaging remarks about the incident, especially in regards to how the tragedy was ever allowed to happen in the first place, how negligent the owners of the business were, and how the whole episode was a moral outrage. Others produced an entire “page” in response to the situation which allowed multiple comments. Some of the cleaner ideas dealt with the apparent ineptitude of the owners and operators while one expressed the sentiment that those responsible should “rot in hell” for what happened.

Now, I love animals as much as anyone. And I also understand how people will say and post things they don’t really mean in the heat of the moment or when they allow their emotions to run wild. But what I saw and read in the responses to the tragedy was, in my opinion, shameful and disgraceful.

Yes, mistakes were made. But upon learning the facts of the situation, I don’t see how much of what happened could have been avoided. Flooding in that area was not expected, and when the operators learned of the situation, they were prevented from reaching the animals by authorities who were busy trying to rescue people. When they were allowed to return to the store they did what they could. It was a terrible tragedy, but, praise the Lord, no people were lost to my knowledge.

What has happened to us? Have we been bombarded for so long by such trivial flotsam that we can no longer discern what is important in this world? Or have we truly allowed our hearts to grow hard toward those around us? What does it say about Christians who lose their temper and use profane language over an accident involving animals? What does it say about a society that goes berserk when little puppies and kittens are killed, but doesn’t even acknowledge when innocent children are murdered daily for convenience?

Priorities can be changed. Cold hearts are another matter.