I don’t want to keep count. There have been too many bombings, and far too many shootings. And yet, there is another. After Sunday’s tragic shooting at a Synagogue in California, where people were gathering to celebrate Passover, last evening, there was another one at the University of North Carolina. Experts have offered explanations for the escalation in violence. I am not convinced by the theories they have expressed.
As always, I ask for prayers for the victims and their families. I also hope that we pray for the shooters who somehow believed that this was the only solution for what was unfolding in their lives. I am saddened that this type of news story is becoming the rule, rather than the exception.
I can’t offer an answer to the “why” question for this type of violence. I also am unable to think of any kind of solution that would prevent someone else from doing this again. I recognize that we have the blessed opportunity to reach out to people who are in physical and spiritual pain. We are called to embrace others with love, grace and compassion. How can we, as servants of our Risen Savior, make a difference in the lives of those who are feeling overwhelmed by the burdens they carry?
So, I will ask some of what I have been thinking about since Sunday:
- Is there a place for people who are grieving to express their sorrow, loss, and loneliness?
- Is there a space for those who are angry to speak about their frustration, disappointment and resentment, without being judged or silenced?
- How can we walk beside those who are in pain, to assure them that they are not alone?
- If the answer to any of these questions isn’t apparent, what are our next steps?
I still believe this is one way our churches can respond to the needs of persons who thirst for living water and know that they matter. May we prayerfully consider what is possible in the coming weeks and month, creating new spaces and places for those in need of our care and love. And Amen.