So as we prepare for another week, and one that no doubt will include further thoughts, reports, and reactions on Friday's events, I offer these simple thoughts:
- This grief must be felt and lifted up by us all. We are called to mourn and care for each other (James 5:13-16). Yet, this grief must not diminish our joy and celebration of Christ's birth. As Judeo-Christian people, we have always been a people who suffer, survive, and thrive. Our own God demonstrated this on the cross, which represents our deepest of sorrows in Jesus' death and our greatest of joys in Jesus' eternal triumph over death, both.
- This event must lead us to be even more active in our faith. Many have and will say that tragedies like this cause us to question, leave, or even reject our faith and our God--based on the inability to conceive of a God who would let these things happen. Let us all go to those places, let those questions and thoughts be part of our journeys. But let us not stay there. Let us realize and recall that the only way we will see to the hope and redemption of this sadness is by our faith and through the mightiness of our God and Savior. If evil is a darkness always waiting to creep forward into our lives, then let us continue to shed Christ's light that shines through all darkness into our broken world and situations (John 1:4-5). Let us pour out our love and the good news of the gospel even more.
- This danger must be met with prayer. So many times we respond to these events in every imaginable way: heightening security, limiting our public activities, practicing super vigilance, increasing our paranoia of others', fighting to make laws more strict, seeking revenge and placing blame upon those "responsible" for the tragedy, etc. Some of these responses may seem very logical and helpful. Yet, they all fall into the human-contrived category of methods for solving our own problems. Instead, we must pray (1 Thess 5:14-22). What we forget is that God is the one who has the capacity to move beyond just offering solutions to problems. Our God is a God who has the capacity to create entire new realities. Only by our prayers and our submission to God's power and our powerlessness will be be able to see God's ultimate work and direction in the midst of this, those affected, and those behind the violence.
Lastly, Horizons, like many other careful organizations in Lincoln, will continue safe and diligent practices for protecting our children and all who come to this ministry. But we will also strive to put God first, before all other agendas and continue to welcome others with Jesus' love, trusting in the Holy Spirit's protection and presence at all times. Amen.
More to come!
Jason <><
It seems there are those who are drawn to pray at times like these, and those who are drawn to take action. I think there's a place for both, but I love what you said about God being able to create an entire new reality. It's only by His doing that this takes place. Not by our laws and governance. And the requests we make to this living breathing, and PRESENT God, never go unheard. That is something I struggle with. Believing that request can actually make a difference, and bring about fruit.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff.