When Confronted With Evil

"We expe­ri­ence all the hor­rors that go on both around us and with­in us as hor­rors rather than as just the way the cook­ie crum­bles because, in our inner­most hearts, we belong to Holi­ness, which they are a trag­ic depar­ture from." - Frederick Buechner

Carolyn Arends posted this quote recently and it really touched my soul.

We seem to be constantly reminded of horrors. The killing of the children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas, … by a child….as just one recent example.

We belong to Holiness and our souls are at unrest when we read about horrors or experience them personally.

I want to console those who are hurting but my words are so inadequate. Carolyn writes in one of her recent blogs on the subject…..

“So what can we say in times of trouble? I asked my friends what responses had helped them the most, and their replies reminded me of a piece of advice attributed to Miles Davis: “Think of a note and don’t play it.” As a musician, I understand—allow for space in the music, don’t always rush in, and listen. As a friend and a daughter, I’m starting to get it, too.

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is think of a truth and embody it rather than say it. When we long to tell a hurting friend that she’s not alone, we can simply sit with her as a tangible reminder that she isn’t. When we want to reassure a struggling family that God cares for them, a well-timed casserole can demonstrate that very fact. Only when we acknowledge the present pain—and the mysteries that likely shroud its cause—do we earn the right to affirm God’s goodness in the midst of it.”

I was mentioning to a friend that I felt kind of guilty for having so much joy in my life right now. And she replied that what the world NEEDS right now is joy and love and laughter! So I will love those in my life. I will laugh with them and enjoy their company, and of course pray for them .

I will continue to pray for the hurting and the suffering and the broken…. like the families of the dead in Uvalde and those in the Ukraine and other countries who are just trying to live one more day.

And I will take deep breaths so I won’t get overwhelmed by the many tragedies around us and worries within me.

Peace, friends. May you also find joy today.

Let’s slow down and spread love in our own parts of the world…..