Silence is more eloquent than words. Thomas Carlyle
It would be a mistake to not acknowledge the tragedy that has befallen our nation in the past 24 hours. Unspeakable evil has occurred and precious lives, young and older, have been taken. Put into motion is a grief that will last years for the families directly involved and impacted. Put into motion is a fear that has settled into the minds and hearts of those who witnessed this atrocious act. A community has been shaken by a devastating event and nothing will ever really be the same. I would venture to say every parent is heartbroken and every human touched by this unspeakable evil.
The responses of those who aren't directly impacted but yet touched have been interesting. Many have taken up their own personal battle cry for their particular views on gun control and God. Those are the two topics getting the most talk from this tragedy. I have allowed *you* your opinion, please allow me mine. It is not the time to take up for your view on gun control or God. Now is not the time. Now is the time to stand alongside of (for most of us that is figuratively) the families that have lost loved ones. Now is the time to weep with them. We dishonor the precious lives taken when we immediately start bickering amongst ourselves about gun control or God. There's time enough for that after the initial shock and weeping have subsided. The only appropriate response right now is heartbreak. The only appropriate response right now is to trust that broken hearts will be mended as time goes by. The families who are grieving so deeply today are not helped by arguments about gun control and God being in or out of that school. I am so grieved for those families but also for a nation of people who jump at opportunities tragedies like this present to argue and bicker and demean people of opposite views. The best response is heartbreak and perhaps in that heartbreak the second best response is silence.
Silence is a tricky thing. When someone is forcibly silenced that is not appropriate but in cases like this tragedy silence is the most eloquent and appropriate accessory to heartbreak.
Can we not have a "moment" (try several days) of silence for these families and the community? Can we not respect them enough to be silent and just stand alongside of them?
It would be a mistake to not acknowledge the tragedy that has befallen our nation in the past 24 hours. Unspeakable evil has occurred and precious lives, young and older, have been taken. Put into motion is a grief that will last years for the families directly involved and impacted. Put into motion is a fear that has settled into the minds and hearts of those who witnessed this atrocious act. A community has been shaken by a devastating event and nothing will ever really be the same. I would venture to say every parent is heartbroken and every human touched by this unspeakable evil.
The responses of those who aren't directly impacted but yet touched have been interesting. Many have taken up their own personal battle cry for their particular views on gun control and God. Those are the two topics getting the most talk from this tragedy. I have allowed *you* your opinion, please allow me mine. It is not the time to take up for your view on gun control or God. Now is not the time. Now is the time to stand alongside of (for most of us that is figuratively) the families that have lost loved ones. Now is the time to weep with them. We dishonor the precious lives taken when we immediately start bickering amongst ourselves about gun control or God. There's time enough for that after the initial shock and weeping have subsided. The only appropriate response right now is heartbreak. The only appropriate response right now is to trust that broken hearts will be mended as time goes by. The families who are grieving so deeply today are not helped by arguments about gun control and God being in or out of that school. I am so grieved for those families but also for a nation of people who jump at opportunities tragedies like this present to argue and bicker and demean people of opposite views. The best response is heartbreak and perhaps in that heartbreak the second best response is silence.
Silence is a tricky thing. When someone is forcibly silenced that is not appropriate but in cases like this tragedy silence is the most eloquent and appropriate accessory to heartbreak.
Can we not have a "moment" (try several days) of silence for these families and the community? Can we not respect them enough to be silent and just stand alongside of them?
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