How does a person of Christian conscience cut through it all with a meaningful response? It’s not enough to denounce white nationalism. It’s not enough or even meaningful anymore to connect it to Western European imperialism. It’s almost insulting to offer thoughts and prayers.
Remember Paris? Remember the Pulse nightclub shooting, coincidentally, where 49 people were also murdered for who they were? To list the countless, recent massacres of our time feels pointless when speaking on the horrific reality of a specific loss of life, today. Real people are suffering because of this right now.
If any of the families suffering because of today’s massacre find this post, please know that a guy in Georgia is thinking about you right now. I’m thinking about how much you loved your family and community. I’m thinking about how you freely and devotedly worshiped, (definitely better than me on that point). I’m thinking about the plans you had for the day to go about your life like my wife and two small children who are asleep right now. (Safe, so I think.)
I bet many of you had dinner plans with loved ones, community meetings to address issues like poverty. I imagine that today was someone’s birthday or anniversary. You were peacefully living your life and today all of that was taken from you. Today, you lost your sense of safety and belonging, and for that I grieve with you.
What would it feel like to be a surviving family member in ChristChurch today? I wouldn’t want to know. I detest this for you and my deepest sympathy is with you. I didn’t say anything earlier because I didn’t think it would mean anything, that it would get lost, that it wouldn’t matter. Sorry for the delay, but i couldn’t let the day go by without voicing my love for you.
I acknowledge your existence and my heart is broken for you. For what it’s worth, I am praying for you and will fight against hatred of your people. Your people are my people. One love.
It's All Fired Up 