Today is Valentine’s Day. A day to show appreciation for friends, families, significant others and anyone else you might love. I woke up this morning to Shari wishing me a Happy Valentine’s Day as she left for work.
My plan was to watch the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade. A day of celebration for our favorite NFL team. It was the third parade for the team in the past 5 years. A gathering of fans getting to be a part of another Super Bowl win.
As the celebration was coming to an end gun shots rang out in the crowd. One moment celebration, enthusiasm for the Chiefs, a coming together of fans and a city for a historic moment. The next was the reality of this country - no place or event is safe.
Shoppers are no longer safe buying groceries to feed their families, Christmas holiday shoppers are no longer safe when buying gifts for friends and loved ones, children are no longer safe in our schools and worshipers are no longer safe professing their faith in our churches. Sadly these have become everyday occurrences. The shock of these violent events are no longer shocking. The questions asked now are “where did it happen and how many were killed.” What should be earth shaking news has been reduced to another story on the evening news.
And what does a civilized country do to stop these events…. NOTHING! Well, not nothing, legislators in Iowa offer a solution. Allow administrators and teachers to carry guns to school. Not a way to reduce guns but to put more guns in schools. WTF?
I’m waiting to hear another NRA bought and paid for presidential candidate, governor, senator or representative offer their “thoughts and prayers.” Sorry folks God isn’t going to run in and make guns less available on our streets, schools, churches and shopping facilities. In all his power those decisions are left to the mortals in official positions. If God were to intervene I’d ask that he get in the minds and hearts (assuming they even have one) and give them the strength to overcome their dependence on PAC dollars and do what’s best for the people and country they were elected to defend.
Looking back through my posts over the years I’ve written about this subject far too many times. For once I wish all those who claim their gun rights are sacred and the politicians that defend them would look into their hearts and try to imagine what the families in Kansas City are going through tonight. Those praying for the lives and health of loved one or those that went from a celebration to praying for the health of a loved one. And for a moment imagine having to start planning for the burial of a loved one. I know this is wishful thinking but if I don’t hope for a better time in a better place what else do I have to look forward to?
Today was suppose to be the celebration of LOVE but as written by John Pavlovitz “Love will not win anything on its own. We need to live in such a way that we make sure that love (through us) wins.”
February 14, 2024
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