Good morning. Tragedy has hit our nation hard and continues to affect those in our world. Some fiery rambling…

• Yes I’m mad. The hurt and fallout from Uvalde and other incidents of mass killing continue to pile up, altering the courses of lives (and obviously ending others) forever.
• I hate trauma. Why? It doesn’t have to happen.
• I understand sin. I understand evil. I don’t think laws can prevent everything.
• But I think well written laws can help with things we take seriously as a society.
• I wondered out loud in several conversations over the weekend: Will protecting our children bring us together as a society?
• In general, I like when things function well. I am not a natural at fixing things. I don’t like inconvenience to get things fixed. But I know it’s part of life.
• No scenario tells us at this point that the response worked well. 
• It seems certain that some who lost their lives did so unnecessarily. 
• Poor police response? Lack of courage? The frustration of seeing police pin down outraged parents rather than take out the shooter roils me.
• I am not perfect. I don’t expect perfection of anyone. Even in the wake of this terrible incident, I am hoping for clarity, honesty, and learning.
• I hope (don’t you?) this never happens again. 
• Do you think like I do? I struggle with wondering if it can happen here. Those easy thoughts compartmentalize my life compared to what others endure in the same country.
• Zoom out. Am I as upset about this trauma as I am the way gangs and even governments have traumatized children in other parts of the world for centuries?
• Children have watched their parents’ murders, instilling fear and hopelessness and authority is imposed. 
• Children have changed hands for money or goods in rampant sex trading for centuries. 
• I think I’m mad at the targeting of children. 
• I pray for their resilience. I pray for hope. I pray for endurance. 
• Will you pray with me for the churches in Uvalde? 
• Yes, prayer tempers the anger. 
• Pray. For the overwhelmed funeral directors. Also, lift up the overwhelmed pastors. 
• Does anger sit in your soul? Act. Pray. Speak. Process. 
• I’ll do my best to do the same…