Good morning…
With last weekend’s wedding in Charleston, S.C., my friend and I enjoyed sight-seeing through the southern city. The history of our pain, our progress, and our potential as a nation comes to life on every street. We reverently visited the church where 9 people were killed by a gunman while gathering for Bible study on June 17th, 2015. I noticed nine shells laying in honor of the slain victims.
The Saturday before our visit to Charleston, 10 beloved people were gunned down by a shooter in their local grocery story in Buffalo, N.Y. Then after yesterday, at least 18 students, 1 teacher, and the 18-year-old gunman are dead following a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
9.
10.
At least 18 plus 2.
When will we learn the life and death lessons aching for our attention?
At a church.
At a grocery story.
At an elementary school.
These are common places we all value in our communities.
Church friends.
Trusted neighbors.
Young kids and their parents.
These are the innocent victims of human hatred, victims who could have been us or our loved ones.
South Carolina.
New York.
Texas.
Random acts of senseless violence can happen anywhere.
As we ponder and personalize the deep pain wreaking havoc in our nation, might we each pray with more passion?
Ponder.
Personalize.
Pray out our pain with passion.
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27a, NIV).
…Sue…
P.S. Here’s a follow up for those who are interested. After yesterday’s election, our village of Vinings will remain, for now, an unincorporated part of Cobb County rather than becoming a “locally controlled” city. In regards to city-hood, these are the results:
No – 1,405 – 55%
Yes – 1,150 – 45%
Some very disappointed neighbors wake up this morning having invested a lot of time, money, and passion in this city-hood cause. Other neighbors wake very pleased by the results. I feel mostly grateful that we came together for important conversations, that we are educating ourselves on the needs of our community, and that so many of us turned out to cast our vote in the direction we felt led. With the guidance of God, may we continue to work together in our communities toward the peacemaking benefit of us all.
