Enough Is Enough
As I began to write today, I received a notification on my phone. I usually turn all my devices to "Do Not Disturb" while I write but I had forgotten to do so. This notification was like many that I receive lately. It was disturbing, sickening and centered around gun violence. A 31-year-old conservative activist named Charlie Kirk had been shot at an event at Utah Valley University. These notifications come way too frequently in our country today. As I am writing this sentence, I am hearing that he has died. I am taking a moment to pray…
I sat there staring at my screen - very unsure of what to write. I just keep coming up with, "enough is enough!" Enough divisive language that leads to seeing people as objects instead of people. Enough talk of "us and them.” Enough guns! Enough allowing hatred to be okay. Enough praying and doing nothing. Enough shooting children in school or at a church service. Enough using terminology that demonizes or belittles others. Enough ignoring the need for mental health care and intervention for those who need it. Enough weaponizing Scripture to make it more about exclusion than love. Enough calling one another nasty names that demonize anyone who is different than us. Enough is enough!
We must do better! If we truly believe that all people are children of God and all life is sacred, we must start seeing Jesus in one another - in all people. We must learn to listen, honor and respect all people as Jesus did. We must stop just praying and start doing - start living lives that truly reflect the love of God. We must honor and celebrate our differences instead of marginalizing people and allowing injustice and hatred to overtake our lives and our world. Enough is enough and love is the only answer!
We cannot continue to normalize hatred and violence.
I am praying for Charlie Kirk's family and loved ones, as well as every other victim of gun violence (no matter their political affiliation) but that is not enough. I also pray for our leaders that they may end the hateful rhetoric that has brought us to this moment in time. We must all speak out in the name of love, show up in the name of Jesus and lift up our faithfulness to God by living out the words of the Prophet Micah who said we are to "do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
When I need guidance and direction, I go to Scripture…
34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25-40)
I am heartbroken… We can do better. We must do better!
-Pastor Madeline
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