A Day Needing Much Love, Mercy, and Grace

Today I woke up to the heartbreaking news of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas. It took a few minutes to actually realize what had happened. Unfathomable! What kind of person conceives an action like this, plans out all of the details and then carries it out? Obviously, he was a very disturbed individual. I’m not writing to get into the how’s or why’s this happened or to debate the gun laws in this country; but rather, I am writing to convey my heartfelt condolences and my incredible pride in the people of this great country.

I pray that God will wrap His loving arms around the families and friends of the victims of this tragedy. Their pain is so deep. I simply cannot imagine sending my loved one(s) off to enjoy a great country music festival and then not have them come home. I stand with millions of people who have sent their loved ones off to concert events and prayed for their safety. My heart breaks for those whose loved ones didn’t come home.

I am praying for the lives of the survivors, those with physical injuries and those who are handling the mental pain of what they witnessed and survived. They will live with this for the rest of their lives. My prayer is that they will recover to live full and blessed lives and not suffer for extended periods of time with PTSD.

I am so thankful to the police officers, fire fighters and EMT responders. Their incredibly swift response saved so many lives. They ran in when others were running out. They protected citizens with their own bodies and guided them to safety. They cared for the wounded on site. They were as prepared for such a tragic event as one can be. No one ever wants to have to put active shooter training to the test, but the Las Vegas emergency responders were called on and they passed this awful test.

And last, but certainly, by far, not the least, were the ordinary people who did extra-ordinary things. Some were concert goers who grabbed strangers to pull them to safety. Some were driving by and gave up their vehicles to transport victims to hospitals. People used the barricades as stretchers to carry the wounded to safety. They were those who shielded others with their own bodies. One gentleman in his 50’s decided that the young women in their 20’s on the ground were worth saving more than himself, so he laid his body across them to shield them. Some people turned back to help others get over walls and barricades. They could have just kept on going, but they didn’t.

In the midst of great tragedy, even greater humanity shows up. We have been tested in the last month with hurricanes, fires and earthquakes and now this mass shooting. What has made my heart sing and swell with pride after every event is how people have shown up to help others.

While we continue to make financial donations and send supplies for the victims of the natural disasters, we are stepping up for the victims of the mass shooting. Steve Sisolak, Chairman of the Clark County Commissioners in Las Vegas, reported this afternoon that several

hotels are opening rooms at no cost for victims’ families who are arriving in town. Donations of water, blankets and food to the convention center, where family and friends are awaiting reunification, have been so great that they are running out of room to store them. The city leaders asked people who were able to donate blood. Since that time, donors waited 6-8 hours in long lines for their turn. By 3:00 pm, earliest appointments available were Thursday afternoon and Friday. City leaders also established a

Go Fund Me account to help the victims and their families today and in the days ahead. In just twelve hours it reached $2.2 million. A-maxing! Just amazing!

Can we all embrace this “Be kind to one another” mentality in all areas of our lives?

In the meantime, pray that all who are suffering may find peace in God’s love. May they see God’s hand in the works of others. May our spirits be filled with the desire to do good for others in Your name.

Luke 6:31 Treat others the way you want them to treat you.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Ps. 34:18

PS Sorry for my lack of writings posted lately. I have three in the works, just can’t get through them. Hoping the finishing touches and timing will come so that I may share with you again soon.