Dear friends,
Yesterday, seventeen teenagers—each full of promise, each beloved children of God—were killed in yet another school shooting. Many more were wounded. One deeply troubled young man is in jail, facing the death penalty. It is horrifying. Terrifying.
We grieve with the family members and friends who have lost these beautiful young people. We grieve for a young man so filled with hate or despair–or something else we don’t understand. We grieve for all our children and teachers and parents who are traumatized over again with every school shooting.
One of the many awful things I heard on the news last night was the phrase, “a new normal.” Students knew what to do because their school had held practice drills. I admire the administrators who organized those drills. Still, I am horrified that our children need to practice responding to another child with a gun. I am worried about the long-term impact on their lives and our communities. How do we create safety without becoming suspicious of every person we perceive to be different? What do we do with the trauma that settles into our bodies, minds and spirits every time we learn of another shooting?
I learned about the shooting in our prayers at the beginning of Wednesday evening’s Bible Study class. It felt especially shocking on a day we were celebrating Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Today, I find myself thinking about ways those two holidays can offer us insight into how to respond to this horrifying shooting.
You may have heard me tell my favorite story of the origins of Valentine’s Day. Valentine, an early Christian, was imprisoned for refusing to bow to the Roman emperor. He was befriended by the jailer’s daughter. When Valentine was taken to be executed, he left a letter for his new friend, which he signed, “Your Valentine.” Valentine’s Day is not about romance; it is about friendship that gives us courage to face whatever we must face.
Yesterday, Shane led a moving Ash Wednesday service. He talked about ashes as a symbol of a reality we like to ignore: we are mortal. Our lives, understanding, and power are all limited. It is a hard truth, and it is also a truth that can set us free. When we accept that our lives are short, we treasure each day. When we acknowledge that our understanding is imperfect, we can be more compassionate with our own mistakes; we open ourselves to God’s forgiveness and offer it to others. When we recognize that our power is limited, we turn to a power greater than ourselves, and we work together so our limited power is multiplied.
The story of Valentine’s Day inspires us to respond to yesterday’s news by reaffirming the power of friendship to give us courage. Ash Wednesday puts our vulnerability, confusion and powerlessness into a sacred context, inviting us to treasure our lives and each other, to trust in God’s healing compassion, to reaffirm the ultimate power of God’s love.
May our friendships inspire courage to face the challenges of these times. May we lift up our human brokenness, trusting that God can heal us and can make us instruments of healing for others.
Peace, Debbie