Unsure...

I'm not sure how I feel about Osama bin Laden's death. Actually, I know I feel a little conflicted.

Mostly I feel shocked, stunned that someone who has had so much power over the psyche of this world for so long is no longer in it. I'm not sure what a post-bin Laden world looks like. Am I happy? That's complicated.

I feel relieved because his reign of terror is over.
I feel cynical because his followers will most likely just pick up the torch. And even more so because it is a reminder of the human condition apart from God - we are capable of terrible, terrible things.
I feel worried that this very event will spark backlash.

I feel glad because he was finally captured and is no longer capable of the mass destruction he caused, and hopeful that it will end even a little bit of the terror in the world today, even just in people's hearts, healing the victims of 9/11.
I feel sad that his life is over, because I believe all life is sacred and created by God (he was also knit together by God in his mother's womb), and knowing where he is now makes me uncomfortable rejoicing at his misery. I know that he caused misery for millions, but I'm not sure that makes me happy that he is in hell. Plus, as so many have pointed out, God does not rejoice in the death of anyone.

But part of me also is happy he's in hell. But I think that might be a tiny manifestation of the same part of me that makes humans capable of those terrible things he did.

I think I would have been a lot less conflicted, and almost entirely rejoicing, if he'd been captured alive. Out of the picture but not killed by human hands.

I know this is rambling but so is my brain. I've been having these conversations with myself for 36 hours now...