June 14, 2016

"This is not something that goes away easy."

The recent shooting in America has struck me to the core, in my prayer time and now as I type, the tears well in my eyes at the atrocity of it.  I’ve heard in the news things like, “…this is the new norm in America”, and one reporter used the term “not shockingly” in reference to another mass shooting in America.

In following the story, I’ve read many things that make me sad, angry and some things that just make me shake my head in disbelief of this “not shockingly” “new norm”.  

My heart grows heavy. 

The gun enthusiasts shout gun control won’t work (after all it’s not the gun that kills and they need to protect their family), I hear politicians shout that we cannot let this happen again and we must control who gets what guns and when (and yet in weeks or months to come, nothing will be done).

I read an article[1] today, an interview with five of the surgeons on duty that night, they were on the front line at the hospital, seeing it all first hand. Surgery after surgery, victims crying, and families panicked wondering where was their loved one.  Dr. William Havron said, in regards to what they saw and experienced for them, “This is not something that goes away easily”.     

It happens, we get all up in arms, we do nothing and life, for some, goes on; for the treating doctors and I’m guessing the first responders, police, S.W.A.T. team, the victims, the ones that escaped, the families that mourn, the shooter's family, I echo Dr. Havron, this will not go away from them easily.

And it shouldn’t go away from us easily.  Those of us who slept a peaceful night at home and woke to our life, our families, our friends.  No, I think we need to hold onto this along with those who experienced it; we need to mourn with them, pray for them, support them and love them, even if we do not know them.

This should shock us, this should not be accepted as the new norm and this should be something that we do not let our hearts forget easily.  

No, the gun didn’t walk into Pulse all by itself and go off countless times, killing, it is not the gun’s fault.  But the devil schemes, deceives the man with the gun, he lies to him and paints a pretty picture, convinces him he’s doing the right thing.  And the combination is deadly.  

Our only hope is God and His Armor:
Ephesians 6:10-17
 …be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.[2]

Jesus is coming again, are you in?  Or more importantly is He in you?



[1] http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/breakingnews/orlando-surgeons-speak-out-this-is-not-something-that-goes-away/ar-AAh0ee7?li=BBnba9J
[2] Ephesians 6:10-17 New American Standard Bible


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