something like this

I’m back.

(Note: I had a post ready to publish, but the events of yesterday altered my thoughts — and thus my plans and our ensuing, respectful dialogue.)

On Wednesday morning, as the Virginia dawn was breaking and many more were waking, a television reporter and a photo journalist were shot and killed during a live broadcast. They were shot by a former, said to be “disgruntled” employee. It was intentional. The very initial investigation seems to indicate the murders were premeditated.

Heinous. Horrific. Give me whatever word you want. As my longtime, sweet school friend shared with me — a friend who is also an accomplished photo journalist — I’m “numb. Just numb.” She told me about yesterday’s newsroom… how their typically bustling set was only quiet and devastated. There is “no ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, or CNN” on days like yesterday; our newsrooms are a close knit community. There are so many emotions — for them, for us — yet so few words to adequately describe.

It seems true on this planet, when bad things happen, we really struggle with how to respond… wisely. I get it. If we’re not numb, we’re outraged. Maybe, often… both. And when we’re outraged, we react immediately. We are a reactionary people.

I thus paused, observing the plethora of instant, varied reactions to Wednesday’s awful event…

• Some immediately adopting the eye-for-an-eye verdict (although their words aren’t quite as nice as mine).
• Others decrying gun violence.
• Still more denouncing all private gun ownership.
• Others ranting about racism.
• More, too, demanding new policy initiatives.

… all in the seemingly immediate, initial instant after the awful event.

I get it. Does America have a gun problem? … a violence problem? … a racism problem? We certainly struggle with each of the above; many people are legitimately passionate about these issues. Let me first add a related concept. I believe we also have a significant problem in this country with mental illness; we’re not good at acknowledging it nor discussing it — a topic the Intramuralist believes gets way too little air time.

My sense, no less, is that each of the above conflicts are topics on which we could/should undoubtedly host a longer, respectful dialogue. My sense is also that our instantaneous outrage in these areas often impedes us from seeing a far bigger, bottom line.

Bigger than the problems with guns, violence, and race, America seems to have a “sin” problem (… sorry… I know we have trouble and great discomfort acknowledging and discussing this; I just don’t like to avoid any topic). Hence, allow me to explain…

If sin is “an immoral act considered to be a transgression of divine law,” we need to at least attempt to discern what “divine law” is. What does God actually require of us?

Yikes. I must confess that the Intramuralist was never blessed with some ultra-omniscience capable of articulating exactly what God requires and does not; in fact, I’m pretty confident no human has been so seemingly blessed. But if asked, I would start with something like this…

The great big God of the Universe wants us to love him and love other people (… let me repeat that…). Love him and love other people. He wants us to be humble, act justly, and love mercy. If each of us simply started with that, my even keener sense is that there would be less problems on this planet — yes, less of a gun problem… less of a violence problem… and less of a racism problem.

If yesterday’s killer had humbled himself before God — submitting in some semblance of prayer his emotions, experience, and so obvious (to us) wrongful belief system — before the living God — he would not have killed Allison Parker and Adam Ward. Instead, this killer was seemingly “mad as hell and not going to take it any more.” He knew no divine law at that time.

I think of the two innocent people who died Wednesday morning… two people, doing their jobs.

 As my dear friend said, I’m “numb. Just numb.” Maybe that humble pause should be the first reaction for each of us… accompanied by tear-laced prayers for the families of Parker and Ward. May God be with you now.

(P.S. I’m back.)

Respectfully…
AR