This week, the almost unthinkable happened – a former president was shot while giving a speech. Most of us responded with shock and horror and prayers. Some of us asked that we treat all acts of violence with this kind of respect and concern. Too many people with incomplete information lifted up blame without thinking about how it would be received or what damage it could cause. Conjectures about the shooter ran rampant because we all want to know why anyone would do such a thing. And because we have fake and real news every day, all the time, (and networks need to sell ads), the voices from all over the spectrum are shouting out their guesses like they are playing Pictionary. We know nothing, yet we point fingers. This is America today.
In our church, I simply asked that we pray for Mr. Trump, his family, and the families of those injured and killed in the shooting. I also asked that we pray for the family and neighbors of the shooter; it is hard for any of us to imagine what they are going through. That’s it – no conspiracies were spoken – no snarky remarks – no inappropriate comments. That’s because we are a community of faith, and we try our best to seek and speak the truth without judgment. I’m sure that many of you reading this had a similar experience. If you didn’t – if someone was blamed or any emotion was expressed other than sorrow – you might want to reconsider your choice of your spiritual home.
I think it is human nature to want answers. It is also our nature to have opinions based on our emotions, our histories, and our biases. But what about facts and truth? What about waiting a second to find out what really happened before we express our opinion? Pointing fingers leads to false accusations which leads to conspiracies which leads to more division. We want so much to be right that we refuse to entertain the possibility that we could be wrong. I believe that law enforcement will figure out, at some point, why this lost soul tried to kill a former president. In the meantime, maybe we should all just shut up. Listen, learn, consider, ponder, think, pray, weep – but stop talking. The writer of James in the Christian Scriptures knew this problem all too well. Here is what he wrote to the church towards the end of the 1st century:
“So also, the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it, we bless the Lord and God, and with it, we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.” He knew the deal; so do we. At least, we should.
Prayer – Holy God, bring Your consolation and comfort to the Trump family and all who have been damaged by this evil act. May they find healing and hope. Amen.
Today’s art is “The Moon Woman” by Jackson Pollack.