Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool who repeats his folly.
Proverbs 26:11 (English Standard Version)
As I write this post, homegoing services for the Newtown, Connecticut shooting victims are underway; a heart-heavy final act for victims-most of whom were just still starting their lives.
In the days ahead, after we bury the last victim, what now? Will we take this time to look at ourselves as a whole and bring out our many flaws into the light? Are we going to sit down and have a serious dialogue on gun control, factoring in all the cultural mechanics that impact this touchy issue? Are we going to let this incident that has touched more lives than we can count make us take a real good look at ourselves and what we can do to make ourselves and our world better? Are we going to start looking out for each other so we may see our potential shooters before they strike and help steer them into a more life-giving way of life? Can we become a community now and use this to bring us even closer together from this time forward?
Or will it be “business as usual”? Will we give a good talk about “gun control” and “protecting our schools/children” for the time being? Will our leaders just make an appearance at these homegoing services, promising change but delivering little. Will our gun lobbies still try to lean on our politicians to keep “right to carry” in effect? Will we ignore the warning signs of potential killers, saying it’s not our business, and do nothing about rescuing them? Will we stay fragmented and disengaging with each other? Will we then, after this story dies down and fades into history, go back to the way it was before until some new shooter with issues waltzes into a school and inflicts his/her fatal damage?
What now? The ball’s in our court. What we do with the ball will determine how the game will ultimately play out.
What now?
Peace.
Heart felt and True