Good Lord, Deliver Us


Today is the “Hallmark Holiday” Valentine’s Day.  Some of us will mark the occasion by wearing red or remembering at the last minute to buy a card or flowers of one’s beloved.  But my thoughts and prayers are with the 17 families of Parkland, Florida who mark today as the first anniversary of living without a loved one who was killed in a shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 
It seems hard to believe a year has past since that awful day, which also happened to be Ash Wednesday.  Due to that fact, I was not as “plugged-in” that day and only got snippets of information between services.  As the details emerged, it was tragic and heartbreaking, taking on a surreal shimmer as most unthinkable acts do. Unfortunately, it was quite real, and the aftermath will be felt forever.
I don’t know any of the victims, however I feel a connection to Carmen Schentrup, who was a 16 (almost 17) year old senior with big plans. She was also Episcopalian.  Our Bishop, through his ministry in Florida, knows her rector.  The Bishop shared with the clergy that he called his friend to see how he was doing, and he said that Carmen had been in his office the week before sharing the news of her college acceptance. Now he was making plans for her funeral. Having had similar conversations with our youth, I can only imagine the shock and anguish he felt, and I’m sure still feels.
Carmen’s parents, older brother and younger sister came to General Convention this summer in Austin and addressed the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops.  I believe they came through an invitation from the Bishops United Against Gun Violence, who held daily prayers for all victims, known and unknown, of gun violence in America.  Hearing the Schentrup’s story and grief was painful and uplifting.  Such a tragic event takes years to work through mentally and spiritually.  Their pain was visceral, but they choose to get up every day and offer their stories in order that Carmen’s senseless death might have meaning. 
I don’t know if the Schentrups still attend church.  I learned that they moved from Florida to Washington State for Mr. Schentrup’s work.  For their sake, I hope so, that their faith will continue to offer strength and solace in the midst of their grief.  I know it is easy to blame God when such horrors happen, but I do not believe God “lets” them happen.  No, that is on us, God’s children.
While I do believe in sensible gun laws, I won’t make this blog about political activism.  Rather, as faithful Christians who commit ourselves to loving our neighbors, I believe we need to remember that one of the reasons this tragedy happened was because people did not speak up when they saw warning signs in the shooter’s behavior.  We do need to be, as Jesus tells us, “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”  If you see something, say something.  It is better to err on the side of caution while not being paranoid.  It can be a fine line, but with the Spirit’s help, we can be aware and possibly prevent a horrible action.
Like the Schentrups, we have a choice to make – to walk in love or cower in fear.  As it is Valentine’s Day, let’s opt to walk in love, as Christ loves us.
In Christ,
Rev. Valerie+

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