Yesterday. As the day unfolded and life continued pacing quickly to a deadline and date, a great sadness overwhelmed me. Us. Another mass shooting. Innocence is senselessly gone. We have no answers. Grieve. Public and silent. Ask questions with no satisfying answers.
It’s during times like this that our minds begin to unravel. Everyone seems to know the answer, but no one has enough power to do anything. Except, and by painting their word pictures with grief, some speak words they want others to hear. Meanwhile, we hear what we want to hear. If you listen real good, you hear the silence.
There’s nothing new to say.
It’s all been said before.
Still, we find ourselves in this tragedy again.
We are victims of the times but suffer more dearly from how our minds work. Those who can express their emotions freely, well, these are good times to emote the moment. The stoic will shed soft tears and hold back the racking grief that causes their shoulders to shudder. Some will act shell-shocked, I think we call it PTSD these days, but the moment of violence brings them to stumble around, seemingly unaware of their surroundings.
Though I cannot speak for others, I wrap my mind a little tighter. This is not the time to become unwound. Unglued. In grief and tragedy, this is the time to be strong when others cannot.
Wrap My Mind A Little Tighter: This is not the time to become unwound. Unglued. In grief and tragedy, this is the time to be strong when others cannot. Share on XCalled to Pray
Today, we are called to pray, even when we don’t know what to say. Pray, perhaps, as we have never prayed before. Give comfort, even though we are far away. Assure ourselves that this will be the last time, but life has no way of proving our assurance. Resolve that this time is different, but pray for healing.
We have commonly called it “The Lord’s Prayer,” but it’s only His in that He told “US” how to pray. If you want to hear how He prayed, go to John 17.
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
I wrap my mind a little tighter each time I pray. He unloads my burdens and restores my soul. Life is not necessarily better, but each prayer sustains me each day. I may not make changes, but I know what I can do. This is my call to prayer.