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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Faithful Reflections — Friday

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atkinskinsFriday, December 14, 2012, was like any other day except that 26 people died from gunshot wounds in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. As news filtered out we learned that 20 first graders had been senselessly killed along with six teachers and administrators at the school. We witnessed an awful day followed by an awful week of funerals and memorial services just before Christmas.

At times like these, I give thanks for faith. The traditions of faith have carried countless generations before us through the most difficult times. The resources are there in the practices and traditions to turn the question “why?” into the question “what?.”

What do I do now?

The practices of faith give us the rituals by which we encounter grief and loss. The traditions restore trust by empowering compassion.

Yes, I know, the abuse of religion by some has led to conflict and death. Anything that is powerful can, in human hands, be turned into a means of violence and domination.

Yet it is to faith that we turn in our hour of need because we find there meaning and purpose beyond the mundane. In faith we can learn empathy and the serious work required to come together as a community. And finally, in faith we hear the call for forgiveness that replaces eternal rage.

We can teach our children empathy. We can celebrate a resilient community we create that has resources to heal and restore, to protect and to intercede. The spiritually healthy person cares and acts to make things better.

Grace and Peace.

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Bob Atkins
Bob Atkinshttp://peopleofgrace.org
Bob Atkins is pastor at Grace United Methodist Church, 300 E. Gartner Rd. Contact Bob via email at pastorbob@peopleofgrace.org.

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