Time to talk about gun violence?
Dear students, alumni, and the collegiate community:
We awoke this morning to the horrifying news of the most deadly mass shooting ever. If you've seen the footage of the Jason Aldean concert or read about the victims, the heroics of concert goers and police, your heart is probably breaking along with mine. I find myself saying over and over, "Lord have mercy."
59 dead. 500+ wounded. Lord have mercy.
Trying to make sense of this is pointless. It's just darkness. If you're like me, I immediately start trying to lay blame and like many others ask, "how can we prevent the next one?"
On campus we talk about overcoming isolation, inviting the outcast, and loving our neighbor through forming beloved community. We err on the side of love. Always. We try to walk as children of the light. So when darkness rears it's ugly head, when events like the Virginia Tech shooting, Newtown, the Pulse nightclub shooting, the racial violence at Charlottesville, and this senseless evil in Las Vegas happen, it is a reminder that we have work to do.
Let's channel this rage towards loving the unloved just a little more.
And for God's sake let's come together in agreement that there is a difference between guns that are for hunting and guns that are made to end people. Let's agree that assault rifles, automatic pistols and weapons are made to kill people and should be restricted. Can we agree to take it a step further and urge our lawmakers to pass gun reform? This is about human rights and not partisan politics.
And let us pray:
“Almighty and merciful God, whose only Son came to preach peace to the nations: Hear us, we beseech You, and comfort us with Your steady Hand, as we come before You this day in the wake of unspeakable violence. In a world that seems hopeless, help us to remember that our hope rests always in You, and in the resurrection of Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”
Amen. Lord have mercy.
Give online to victims & their families here: https://www.gofundme.com/dr2ks2-las-vegas-victims-fund
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