Coping with yet another shooting spree…

How do we cope? What is the cause? Why did this happen? How can we stop this?

I’m processing along with everyone else (such a 21st century word: processing!). I notice everyone looking for why. Myself included.

Was the shooter mentally ill? Was he X? Was he Y? Was he Z?

We want to know a reason why he could do such a thing. Why he would do this, something that “I” wouldn’t/couldn’t do. We want a reason that makes sense of it and there is no sense. At some level we want to believe that somehow this person, was inherently different than ourselves, to somehow think that we aren’t the same.  To think that he was evil, and we are not.

I don’t have an answer – there is no answer for evil other than that we need a savior.

I also remember Matthew 5:21-22 where Jesus levels the field and calls anger and name calling on par with murder. Evil is evil, no matter the degree.

Repent in sackcloth and ashes and pray for mercy.

So weep with those who weep. Mourn with those who mourn. Pray for those affected, every child who will now react at a sudden unexpected pop or crash, every parent who will tremble at letting their child leave the house again.

And pray Come your Kingdom, Be done, your will on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.