Healing

The other day, Nate and I walked through Clackamas Town Center, on our way to see a movie.  It was the first time we'd been there since the shooting.  As we strolled through the food court, my stomach tied up in knots.  I looked around, at everyone going on their merry way and felt as though it wasn't right.

How could people just go on with life in a place where tragedy had struck less than a month before?

I couldn't help but think of my friend who was rushed out of the movie theater to get away from the shooter.  I remembered my college roommate's sister who got herded into the back office of her work, praying that the shooter wouldn't enter.  I thought of the young couple we know who had just left the building with their young daughter when the emergency vehicles came screaming into the parking lot.  My heart broke for the girl in my friend's youth group who's dad was one of the individuals killed that day.

I felt so broken for each any everyone impacted by this tragedy.  I prayed that the Lord would bring healing into their lives.  I prayed that God would use this situation for His good.

Above all that, I prayed for those who go through life with this kind of terror.  There are people in Uganda, in China, in Mexico, even here in the United States who go through life with terror.  A shooting in their neighborhood is just another day in their lives.

Please join me in praying for our world.  Pray for healing and for peace.  Let's also look and pray for ways we can minister to those in pain.  Whether it's a child in Uganda who was captured for a child's army or a child in the United States who's dad comes home in an angry, drunken fit.  We can't help everyone but we can look for ways to help a few.  If everyone were to do this, we could make huge changes in our world.