It's Wednesday!

Attempting to make safe schools a priority is just one small step to fighting the bad guys, evil, satan, or whatever term one may use to describe the cruelty going on in our world today.  Naming the enemy is half the battle. Some don’t believe in God or deny who Jesus is, but we all better acknowledge that evil exists, and it is ruled by the evil one, satan.  My word program wants to capitalize his name, but I refuse to allow him any distinction. 

Since last week, so much has happened that shows evil has run amok. Believers and non-believers should be able to agree and should be able to come together for the safety of our children.  Local law enforcement and the FBI dropped the ball when it came to the shooting tragedy in Parkland, Florida. They could have prevented or at least curtailed the events of February 14.  They did not.  What do we do now?  We can’t change anything in the past. There is no need to condemn all law enforcement.  Not all FBI agents drop the ball.  In cases like this, too many times we turn to hate and refuse to move on.  Perhaps it’s time we start learning from mistakes and using what we know to help prevent future tragedies, instead of placing blame and fighting each other. 

I’ve recently learned there are lots of schools who simply do not talk about the possibility of intruders.  They do not have intruder drills and they have no safety measures in place.  Those living in the communities where these schools are could do a lot to change the situation.  The world we live in has changed.  We can no longer deny there is a problem.  First steps for immediate change is to be bold, speak up, volunteer, and stand firm.  We must stop hating and blaming.  Training for teachers and students is a must.  Knowing what to do during an intruder lock down is just as important as fire and tornado situations.  I found a book for younger students, “I’m Not Scared, I’m Prepared.”  That should be our motto. Fear is the enemy.

We should go about our tasks with kindness, while being firm and truthful about our mission.  My prayer is to seek knowledge and to gain the wisdom to do what I can.  I pray all schools become a safe place.  Most of all, I pray that I won’t be a distraction from real solutions. There are no quick answers.  I pray all will come together for answers and push our personal agendas aside.

“Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, you who hate good and love evil;”  Micah 3: 1-2

“Ask not what your country can do for you… ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy

I Picked Wednesday!

After watching the reaction of recent events (school shooting), it became clear to me that nothing is going to change until people change.  I didn’t cause the shooting and I can’t change anything about it. God, on the other hand, can make all the difference in the world.  I picked Wednesday to be the day I concentrate on stopping future shootings. Health issues won’t allow me to do a true fast, but I can set aside extra time with God on this matter.  I’m having a cup of tea this morning while I spend my quiet time in prayer for our Nation and our schools. 

I’m fortunate to teach in a school where safety is very important. Visitors must stop and talk with a security guard before they can come on campus. All doors are locked during the day. No one may enter the building without being buzzed in.  A camera is in place, so office personnel can see who is trying to enter. School employees have fobs to enter certain doors. There is a resource officer assigned to our building. We have intruder drills as often as any other drill. The only thing missing are metal detectors.  Some schools would be wise to add those.  These precautions aren’t fool proof, but I feel safe inside my school.  That has not been the case everywhere I have taught.

Every school in the nation should have similar precautions. They need them TODAY! The biggest obstacle to carrying this out, is money.  It will cost a considerable amount of money to bring school safety for all to fruition. School budgets are tight and may not have extra to spend on this concern.  If enough people work for the common good, money can be found and/or raised to implement these changes.  Contact local businesses and corporations to contribute to a safety fund.  Organizations exist to help with this specific issue.  Find grants for school improvement specifically geared toward school safety.  Once the building changes have been put into place, all that will be needed is salaries for a few additional personnel.  There may be volunteers for some of these jobs. 

My prayer is for people to stop debating and act toward protecting our schools.  We shouldn’t expect the government to take care of everything. Take responsibility for your community and help make it a safer place.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20