August 6 this year is the 80th anniversary of the explosion of an atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan.

The Hiroshima bombing marked the beginning of decades of terror as various nations have joined the so-called “nuclear club” and others work to develop their own nuclear weapons.

Every one of us has been contaminated as nuclear tests and accidents have polluted our land, air, food, water and bodies with radioactivity.

We all suffer as incredible amounts of talent and treasure are wasted on weapons of mass destruction instead of being used to build solutions to poverty, ignorance, disease, environmental degradation, fear and hatred.

Our addiction to violence

Yet, violence seems to be a part of our make-up.

Whether we be children hitting one another, or nations warring against each other, or criminals attacking rivals or terrorists attacking strangers, humankind can legitimately be described as a violent species.

Much of what passes for “entertainment” is a glorification of violence.

And even though we use the verb “play” to describe them, many of our sports and the attitudes of players and spectators are anything but playful.

Made for glory or born for bloodshed?

Children of God or demonic murderers — which are we?

Are we both?

August 6 is also the feast of the Transfiguration.

We must not forget that the one who was glorified on the mountain was the man Jesus.

If it could happen to him, it could happen to us.

Since God has created us for glory, living as glory-bound daughters and sons of God should be easy for us.

It is what we are made for.

Yet, one of the mystifying things about us is that we devote so much energy to being what we are not.

Turning away from our brothers and sisters, turning away from God, turning away from our true selves must require extra effort.

Yet, we (or more specifically, I) continue to live the difficult way, the way of self-centeredness, the way of selfishness, the way of competition, the way of violence.

Two mountaintops

The atomic bomb shows what we can be.

The transfiguration of Jesus shows us how we should be.

If we could accept our destiny and live true to it, what a difference it would make for us and the world!

So, what would living toward glory look like?

The life of Jesus, the transfigured one, shows us.

Such a life would be at the disposal of others, the life of a servant.

It would be a life in which violence toward others, including the quiet violence of using others for our own ends, would be unthinkable.

It would be a life of confidence that God’s love is stronger than anything we might fear, even death.

The invitation is open

Can we live such a life?

One man has, and his living it has opened the way to glory for us all.

A crossroads for the human race

August 6 shines a bright light on our possibilities both as a human race and as individuals.

As individuals, nations and a world, we must choose the path of glory lest we go down the path of destruction.

• William Grimm, a native of New York City, is a missioner and presbyter who since 1973 has served in Japan, Hong Kong and Cambodia. A graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York, he is the publisher of UCA News.