Lessons from Orlando

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved. 
(Psalm 80:3, 7,10 NRSV)

This is the refrain of a congregation in crisis.  The people sing out from their brokenness, praying that God will fix that which they cannot.  In the midst of the darkness, there is a longing for the light of God's face.

When Omar Mateen entered the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in the early hours of a Sunday morning, another terrible and tragic episode in US history began.  One hundred and two precious people were shot by one man.  Forty-nine people were killed in that massacre.  Orlando--a place of sunshine, resorts, and theme parks--is now marred by hatred, violence, and death.  

It has been a hard week for me.  I attended vigils during the past week and read aloud the names of the dead.  I've listened to sermons, read devotions, and reflected on the massacre.  I feel the need to write to add my own voice to those of courageous and compassionate pastors and teachers of the church who have spoken out about what has occurred in light of our Christian faith.  So these are my reflections on Orlando.  These are my emerging lessons from this tragedy:

While I was grateful to be in the crowds that gathered in New Hampshire to lament and grieve what had happened at Pulse, I kept thinking:  What do I need to do to make sure something like this never happens again?  Vigils are certainly important as we gather to witness to the Light that continues to shine in the darkness and to steady and encourage our broken hearts.  But, I am convinced, now is the time for people of faith, hope, and love to find their voice and change the world.

The church needs to say Open and Affirming (ONA) is more than a label; it is a commitment that this congregation is a safe sanctuary for all LGBTQ people.  ONA means that those who gather here promise to value you as a child of God, disciple of Christ, and member of the church.  This is a community where your voice matters--where your life and the life of those you love matter.  A lesson from Orlando:  We cannot be silent or passive about ONA and pretend that we don't need to discuss or discern what it means to welcome, affirm, and embrace all God's children.  The church needs to become a more safe sanctuary where God's light shines and love abounds to heal the brokenness and to bridge the differences.

I continue to be amazed at role of guns in our society.  It is as though weapons of war are our ultimate security.  When the Bill of Rights was drafted and adopted, the framers of the Second Amendment could not have anticipated the sophisticated weaponry that is now so prevalent in our nation.  That one individual could kill or maim over one hundred others in so short a time would have been inconceivable to the founders of this country.  It is time for lawmakers to find the conviction and courage to act--or we need to elect others who will.  Guns are not our salvation or our security. 

It is time that we moved from rhetoric that views the faithful in Islam with suspicion and fear.  Our Muslim neighbors are part of the same faith family from which we ourselves have come.  In every religious tradition--including our own--there are movements and voices that have done great harm.  A religion should be judged not by threats and violence of a few but by deeds of love and mercy that build up lives and lead to greater understanding and peace.  It is time to embrace others in our common humanity with acceptance and love.

In the beginning, God created from the dust.  In the end, God will be present to restore, redeem, and resurrect.  In the middle, may we pray and act to shape the world in ways that reflect God's own intent and hope for it.

O God, who restores the brokenness of hearts and lives, help us to change and to be changed.  Be with all who grapple with the massacre that has occurred in Orlando.  Stand with your precious LGBTQ people.   Bless our Muslim neighbors that they may be accepted and valued.  Strengthen our voices and our resolve to work for your justice and peace, and to live forward in your hope.   Amen.