When I read about the school shooting that occurred in Newton, Connecticut on December 14, I felt a complex pool of emotions that began to rise up and boil over. I felt angry, sad, and frustrated that innocent lives were taken due to one individual who decided to take out his treatable, personal issues on others by using gun violence. I honestly had the "Oh, here we go again!" train of thought as I pondered on the shootings from the past (1999 Columbine HS and 2007 Virginia Tech Massacre) and even in my own, personal life (2011 Virginia Tech shooting). It's a tragedy to know that there isn't a safe place to guarantee the safety of our children on this earth. There are no church buildings, schools, movie theaters, parks, and homes...yes, homes...that can keep our children out of harms way. And as a believer in a higher power, despite the tragedies that occur every day whether if media brings it into the spotlight or not, there is still a lot more that needs to be done as a human race.
I adored the out pour of love, concern, and empathy that most people have expressed towards the victims and their families that were affected by this shooting. Prayers were sent up, words of encouragement were sent out, and people started to comfort other people. It was a beautiful thing to witness that. Others that identify with the Christian faith even longed for the day of Jesus' return on earth so that the end of all evil could prevail. However, instead of us waiting on God, what if God is waiting on us?
I am familiar with the book of Revelations in the Holy Bible and what has been prophesied to happen in the "end days". But truthfully, tragedies like the one that has occurred recently, natural disasters, and wars have been going on since the dawn of mankind's existence. Human beings have been predicting Armageddon for decades and even for centuries. While we are looking to the sky, waiting for a burst of light to come shining down upon us from "heaven" to literally deliver us from evil, the war within ourselves is still raging on and thus contributing to the chaos that we so desperately want to escape from. Where is our faith in the God that exists within us and not just in the heavens? If we want an end to evil, then mankind must cease an evil mentality and in turn, mankind will cease the evil works of its own hand. I truly believe that a lot of the tragedies that occur (that we can control, i.e violence) are not due to "satan" (at least not totally) but are due to the beast like nature that we are all born into this world with. What is lacking is our ability to elevate ourselves from that nature.
If I'm not mistaken, the Bible talks about faith without works is dead. Therefore, the faith in Jesus' return must be accompanied by preparing for that return...and preparation doesn't only have to mean praying more, fasting more, reading the Bible more, or going to "church" more. Our works should come in the form of having a heart for humanity. The Bible also says to love others as God loves you. Even if we do decide to love each other more, this earth will allows be a place for tragedies to occur. However, we as individuals need to be responsible for making this earth more tolerable to live on. We wont be able to control everything, but at least we can be responsible and accountable for ourselves. If all of us held that responsibility, we'll be that much closer to the heaven that we've been searching for.
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