Wednesday

“And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20. 

I read this early yesterday morning.  What really stood out for me was what David Jeremiah said pertaining to this scripture.  He said, “Safety is not the absence of trouble; safety is the presence of Jesus.” Shortly after I read this, there was “breaking news” about a school shooting.  The significance of what I had just read and prayed about hit me hard. We will probably never know what the shooter’s intent was, but for now, it appears he had a specific target.  If he intended a mass shooting, he was stopped in his tracks by a school resource officer.  After yesterday’s incident, the Maryland governor said he pledged to devote greater resources to school security.  That should be on the agenda for every state.  Laws take a lot of time to pass.  In the meantime, all schools should do more to implement safety measures. Usually, the only thing keeping resource officers out of schools is money.  It’s obvious prayer warriors are on the job and we should continue to pray without ceasing.

I can’t help but notice how our society reacts to tragedy. I’m going to express my opinion and admit I may be totally off the mark.  I don't mean to knit pick, but some things strike me as odd.  When the Parkland shooting occurred, news crews never left the scene.  Live video was streamed almost all day.  There was outrage, and there should have been.  School walkouts and a Washington march was planned.  Two kids in Maryland were shot yesterday and the shooter died.  Silence.  It started and ended rather quickly.  Nothing to see here.  I had to really search to find a news story about it today.  Why so much concern and outrage over one shooting and nothing for the other?  There is a difference in the weapons used. One suspect used an AR-15 and the other one used a Glock. I think that might be something to ponder. However, all students at both schools need our prayers.  Two troubled young men went unnoticed.  I always think of these kids and whether something could have been done to help them. 

Austin, Texas has been terrorized by bombings recently.  Two people have died and many more injured.  Even though it has been covered in the news, I’ve seen very little concern from citizens.  Shouldn’t we be outraged?  I am.  The bomber is now dead.  He was only 24 years old. I’m concerned for his family, the families of the victims, and the community of Austin.  Why is this tragedy less important than any other?  Why are we not outraged as a country?  There haven’t been any campaigns for Austin.  No Facebook tributes have shown up.  Why?

Finally, today marks the 13th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day.  I did not know the United Nations declared March 21 as a day to bring public awareness to Down Syndrome in December of 2011. Why is such a day needed?  Why has it become more popular now and how did we miss it for so long?  I believe it is because Down Syndrome children are in danger of becoming a group targeted for genocide/eugenicide. Does that sound ridiculous?  It should.  Some have decided those who are different should not live.  Who decided this and why are they the ones making the decision?  It happened to the Jewish people during World War II.  It happened in Rwanda in the 1990’s. The Bosnian genocide happened in 1992.  Some believe the persecution of Christians by Radical Muslims is genocide.  I tend to agree since it pertains to a targeted group for extension. We seemed to have learned nothing from history.  All life is precious.  With all the death portrayed in society and sometimes legalized, it’s no wonder kids are killing each other.  My prayer is we will lovingly show our support for all life.  Bullying those who are different should stop.  Killing babies because they might be an inconvenience should stop. Treating one tragedy differently from another should stop.  Being afraid should stop.  I pray we learn to notice each other.  Be there for those who seem lost.    Stop the culture of death. 

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  John 20: 21