Our Hearts are Heavy…
With you, our hearts are heavy and grieving over the horrifying shooting death of children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, this week. Nineteen second, third, and fourth-grade children died at Robb Elementary School. Two teachers also lost their lives shielding their students from gunfire. We weep with sorrow at this news, but we are also angered, bewildered, and shocked.
These events are all too familiar; the pain of the Parkland shooting is still very fresh in so many lives and we are all grieved by such acts across our country. In addition to the great evil we’ve seen unleashed recently in Buffalo, NY - and violence that so frequently fills our news feeds - we cannot help but feel deep sorrow. Yet, as Christians, we long for the day when all things will be made new, and the cry, “How long O Lord?” will finally be answered by heaven’s “Now!”
On the morning of December 1, 1997, I was finishing a workout at my gym in Paducah, KY, when breaking news of a school shooting in our community appeared on TV screens. At first, we froze. Then everyone headed out to do whatever was possible to help any and all who’d been impacted. We hoped that no one was injured or that the news would turn out to be mistaken. Sadly, three HS students died that day, and four more were severely injured when a 14-year-old boy opened fire on a group of students gathered in a prayer circle.
As a Pastor in that small town at the time, I know first-hand the horror of the suffering that was inflicted that morning and the enduring scars that continue to mark many lives. The pain remains close to the surface to this day and speaking of it without tears is impossible for me. The cloud of grief that settled over the community twenty-five years ago was thick and dark. Yet, I can also tell you that the citizens' resilient faith was still stronger.
Practical solutions will remain the subject of debate but one of my prayers is that people of goodwill will now find common ground to work for solutions that reduce this grim violence inflicted on so many people. United in grief, let us also unite in prayer that this great sorrow will not lead to more violence, anger, or mere debate. Instead, let us pray that a new willingness to join hands and work hard for the safety and peace of all our children in all of our communities will emerge from this moment of tragedy.
SRC is home to Spanish River Christian School, and we are so thankful for our incredible Teachers, Staff, and Students. We are also deeply grateful for our excellent Security Team, who work diligently to provide a safe worship and education environment. So please join me this week in saying ‘Thank You’ to every Teacher you know and the same to those who serve here every week to protect us.
Matthew’s Gospel records the death of Bethlehem’s little boys, victims of deadly violence visited on them by Herod’s hate and rage about the birth of Jesus. Matthew sums up the sorrow of that terrible moment with a quote from the Jewish prophet Jeremiah. He wrote, “This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more.”
There will be many tears yet to fall. The Rachels of Uvalde will continue to grieve. Let us weep with those who weep. But, let us also pray in peace for those who mourn, for those who serve to keep us safe, for our city and our schools, and for God’s mercy to tear down the idols of violence and hate in our land.
With you in Sorrow and Prayer,
David & Toni Cassidy