Yes, this is the start of a Blog Moratorium in Tribute to the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre , but for personal refletion too.
It doesn’t get past me that just as I gear up to spend 13 weeks teaching about the Problem of Evil a horrifying massacre of 6-7 year olds and their teachers and staff occurs.
I have a lot of information about how Evil works right on tap. But, I just can’t go there.
I know that we all react in shock about events such as these. We ask, “How could Evil be so close and innocence shattered so senselessly?” There is rage, anger, hatred. Emotions aplenty. And I know too that Evil runs right down each one of us too. It’s never merely “out there” or far off. If so labeled it shifts, it seeps, amorphous and eludes being so easily understood or classified.
The pain is so raw. The horror so near. The terror so frightening.
A nightmare.
Too soon people have started barking about gun control, and mentioning mental illness, and our crumbling society …all looking for reasons to make it all go down easier. But, right now, I’m just heartbroken. The weight of the brokenness of the world is here and present. Christmas is coming, and yet we lie ruined. Truly ruined. Hope feels like a faint whisper barely intelligible. A wisp.
I’m taking off for a few days. No blog posts. I’m going to reflect. Quietly. By myself. Away from it all and on the interior. Before the year is out, I’ll make another appearance. Thank you for your prayer for me at this time too for things I won’t mention at this time.
In the meantime, join me in prayer for the community and families of those affected by this violence.
Dear God,
Soothe our broken hearts.
How much pain, O’ God!
We cry out in agony…undone.
Have mercy on us
Bring us peace.
Bind up our wounds
Wash us with your Grace.
Grant us the strength to carry on
And the resolve to not give up
Renew our hope in you and grant that we may forgive
So we ourselves are spared more pain.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen
Thank you and may the Lord bless you mightily for your faithfulness.
Thanks, Brain. That means a lot to me.