Dear Friends,

Among the many words I’ve read in response to the latest school shooting were those written by a friend and colleague, the Rt. Rev. Scott Barker. Scott is is the Bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska, and he offered these thoughts on Thursday, the day after Ash Wednesday:

“It’s poignant that Lent commences this year in the shadow of yet another mass shooting of school children. I’m certain that many of you are already praying for the repose of the souls of those innocents, as well as the adults lost in this latest atrocity. Yesterday, Episcopalians confessed our, “blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty.” It seems to me that these sins become incarnate at the nexus where untreated mental illness meets the virtually unchecked availability of high powered ammunition and assault weapons. When our prayers inspire us to action in the days to come, let us not lose the courage, focus and faith that will be required for our Church to appropriately follow the Prince of Peace as we respond to the epidemic of gun violence in America.”

Bishop Barker’s words made me consider again that phrase, “our thoughts and prayers are with them.” I realize that my prayers need to be focused not only on others, but on me as well. I need to be praying about my own response to, and engagement with, the hurts of the world. Prayer is not about changing God’s heart, but about letting God change mine. This Lent,  I will pray for courage, focus, faith, and the wisdom to make choices that help effect change and heal broken hearts. I hope you will too.

Faithfully,

Tom