Sadness, Weariness, and Anger: Another Mass Shooting, Another Day in America

Today, I am sad, weary, and angry.

I am sad that 19 children with their whole lives ahead of them, lay at the morgue without breath in their bodies.

I am weary of having to think of parents having to do what no parent should have to do-- bury their children.

I am angry that one more time politicians are thumping their chests bemoaning the unspeakable while one more time doing nothing. They are "men without chests," to quote C.S. Lewis.

I am sad for grandparents who can no longer hold their grandchildren.

I am weary of people treating the U.S. Constitution and its amendments as sacred Scripture.

I am angry that the talking heads on cable TV will use this event to spew more nonsense that their disciples will thoughtlessly lap up like thirsty dogs.

I am sad for siblings who now have to make their way in the world without a brother or a sister-- their playmates.

I am weary that we are here once again.

I am angry that at this moment politicians are strategizing on how to use another mass shooting for their reelection campaigns, more interested in contributions from lobbyists than in justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

I am sad for the family and friends of the assailant who cannot fathom what has happened.

I am weary of Christians who shout the loudest for America to turn back to God, promoting ungodly values while quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14 out of context.

I am angry that too many Christians have embraced the way of the sword and not the way of the cross.

I am sad for the survivors who now have to make sense of it all.

I am weary of the Church in America who like first-century Jerusalem does not know "the things that make for peace" (Luke 19:41–42).

I am angry that politicians distract from the major issues of our time to highlight matters of minor importance-- Whataboutism run amok.

I am sad for the pastors who are too cowardly to speak out.

I am weary that "thoughts and prayers" are used to trivialize both as an excuse for doing nothing else.

I am angry that in my state of Ohio (and in other places) one can buy a gun with no background checks, no training, and no permit. It is easier to use a gun than drive a car.

I am sad for aunts and uncles who no longer have a nephew or niece to spoil.

I am weary of the glorification of violence in our culture at all levels.

And finally, I am angry that our children continue to suffer violence in order to maintain our sacred and twisted values. They are not just victims of murder; they are the sacrifices necessary to feed our idols.

Molech is alive and well in America.

#Uvalde #RobbElementarySchool