Casual Fridays

**FULL DISCLOSURE : There really isn't anything casual about this post at all.** 

This past weekend, there was a horrifying shooting in the Orlando, FL area. I'm sure you've all heard about it. It's all over the news. It's all over the internet. It's all over social media. It's everywhere.

And I know I'm not the only one sitting up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, blogging about it. And I'm sure these thoughts are not original and personal to me. But with everything that's happened in the past month, in my own home state less than an hour from my house, I can't just post about ChapStick and my dogs today.

It hasn't even been a week since it happened. 

Let me say that again: it hasn't even been a week since it happened.

Yet it seems like all I'm hearing, seeing, and reading are angry voices screaming at each other, pushing agendas, and casting blame on every possible person or idea that doesn't align with their own.

It was a hate crime against the gays. It was a terrorist attack on America. We need to take away all the guns. We need to arm our citizens. Islam is to blame. Islam is never to blame. All organized religion is the problem. Religion is the answer. The FBI should have protected our country from this. The FBI followed its due process and acted constitutionally. Christians need to speak up. Christians need to shut up.

STOP

For the love of everything, please stop.

49 precious lives were lost.

49 beautiful people created in the very image of God Almighty are gone from this earth.

They went out dancing on a Saturday night, and before the sun rose on Sunday, the life had drained from their bodies.

49 families are hurting. 

49 families will never be the same.

Can't we just hurt with them? Even for a week? Can't we just grieve the loss without fighting and debating and blame-shifting? Can't we show the love of Jesus without having to defend, explain, and justify it? Shut our mouths and open our arms? Fall to our knees and groan our prayers?

"Weep with those who weep."

~Romans 12:15(b)~

"Jesus wept."

~John 11:35~

#WhereTheLightShinesThrough
Switchfoot

#prayforOrlando