"Our world needs kindness more than ever right now and without change, destruction will continue to ensue. Take the vital lessons from this situation and push yourself to be better. Life can sadly be taken very easily and because of this you should reach out with compassion to your loved ones and live beautifully while you still have the opportunity to."
~Bridget Lynn
This past weekend, my hometown became the landmark of the biggest massacre in United States history. That statement, in and of itself, is hard for me to say.
See, Vegas itself was never the victim. Growing up there, I watched the news cover the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. I heard about the Boston Marathon bombings of April 13, 2013. And I read articles about the 2015 San Bernardino attack. But, for all of those events, life went on. Because, for many of us, we are taught that life goes on. But life shouldn't go on.
For me, this massacre was a perspective shift. I learned that life should never go on and we should never ignore important topics that make us uncomfortable.
Don't stop at simply recognizing the hurt and feeling sorry for the families. Allow the hurt to penetrate your heart and find out who those families are. Educate yourself on the details of the story, rather than stopping at the tip of the iceberg you read on a Facebook post. Don't pray a few times and then be done, pray fervently. Pray for the families of victims by name. Pray for the city to be overwhelmed with love and the strength to overcome. Don't simply share a post asking people to donate resources to aid victims. Take action and donate, as well. I truly believe that inhumanity anywhere should be spotlighted everywhere.
There is an unfortunate reality that inhumanity exists, and it's uncomfortable. Terrorist attacks, tyranny, human trafficking-- all of these things (and more) happen and talking about them is uncomfortable. But talking about them and taking action against them is what allows us to overcome them.
I wish that it hadn't taken a massacre in my own town to bring about this perspective shift. I wish I could go back in time and be more involved in the overcoming of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Boston Massacre, and the attack on San Bernardino. I wish I had prayed more fervently for the families of people like Dylan Hockley, who was only 6 years old, and Sierra Clayborn, who still had her whole life ahead of her. But because I cannot, I'm making a promise to do that for families who experience tragedy, firsthand, in the future. I hope you will as well.
Dearest Las Vegas, I'm proud of you. These past few days, you've taken the first steps to overcoming. Churches and citizens have gathered in fervent prayer. Generosity has overflown to the point where many places have had to stop taking donations. Families of victims are being showered with love. You have responded to the fire of hatred in Stephen Paddock's heart with floodgates of love and compassion from your own. And I am very proud of that.
See, Vegas itself was never the victim. Growing up there, I watched the news cover the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. I heard about the Boston Marathon bombings of April 13, 2013. And I read articles about the 2015 San Bernardino attack. But, for all of those events, life went on. Because, for many of us, we are taught that life goes on. But life shouldn't go on.
For me, this massacre was a perspective shift. I learned that life should never go on and we should never ignore important topics that make us uncomfortable.
Don't stop at simply recognizing the hurt and feeling sorry for the families. Allow the hurt to penetrate your heart and find out who those families are. Educate yourself on the details of the story, rather than stopping at the tip of the iceberg you read on a Facebook post. Don't pray a few times and then be done, pray fervently. Pray for the families of victims by name. Pray for the city to be overwhelmed with love and the strength to overcome. Don't simply share a post asking people to donate resources to aid victims. Take action and donate, as well. I truly believe that inhumanity anywhere should be spotlighted everywhere.
There is an unfortunate reality that inhumanity exists, and it's uncomfortable. Terrorist attacks, tyranny, human trafficking-- all of these things (and more) happen and talking about them is uncomfortable. But talking about them and taking action against them is what allows us to overcome them.
I wish that it hadn't taken a massacre in my own town to bring about this perspective shift. I wish I could go back in time and be more involved in the overcoming of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Boston Massacre, and the attack on San Bernardino. I wish I had prayed more fervently for the families of people like Dylan Hockley, who was only 6 years old, and Sierra Clayborn, who still had her whole life ahead of her. But because I cannot, I'm making a promise to do that for families who experience tragedy, firsthand, in the future. I hope you will as well.
Dearest Las Vegas, I'm proud of you. These past few days, you've taken the first steps to overcoming. Churches and citizens have gathered in fervent prayer. Generosity has overflown to the point where many places have had to stop taking donations. Families of victims are being showered with love. You have responded to the fire of hatred in Stephen Paddock's heart with floodgates of love and compassion from your own. And I am very proud of that.
#VegasStrong
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| Photo Credit: Chris Wattie, Reuters |
**For more information on this attack and insight into how Vegas is overcoming it, I encourage you to read the article I linked at the beginning of this article. My dear friend wrote it and presents some stellar points along with the basic information about the massacre. The Washington Post also wrote an article detailing the event. And if you're interested in the names of the victims, TIME has published an article with the names of victims identified thus far.
Heavenly Father, I present to you the great city of Las Vegas, heartbroken and hurting. I know you are aware of the tragedy stricken families as you are also aware of the number of hairs on their heads and what they had for breakfast. You know their likes and dislikes. So you, who know everything about each one of them, who’s love for them unmatched, is by far the most quality and capable of comforting these devastated people. I pray that you would do so. I pray that you would provide peace for every woman, man, and child, personally. That you would be the an anchor holding on steadily to Las Vegas, who has been trampled by tragedy. I ask that you would relieve the pain of lose in their lives. That your spirit would remain with them, quieting their souls from the hate the have endured. I pray all your love would be accepted and felt by the people of Vegas. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.
ReplyDeleteAmen!!
DeleteThank you for sharing your heart in this post. Continuing to pray for Vegas and for our nation as we lean on Jesus for guidance, healing and wisdom. Praying for you as well, friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Missy!
Delete