A Tragic Cycle

A Tragic Cycle

1. Shock and horror. “Another school shooting?!?”

2. Mourning and prayer. A myriad of verse quoting and prayer vigils.

3. Investigation and questions. “How?!”

4. Anger and blaming. “Who was responsible?”

5. Solutions and division. “You should’ve done...What can we do?”

6. Detachment and indifference. “This just in...” (And so, we numb our pain turning our attention to the next tragedy, championship, social cause, or meaningless celebrity trial.)

7. Repeat.

Step 7 is repeat. Historically step 7 is repeat. Foreseeably step 7 will be repeat—unless something changes.

Step 5. I know what every good parent would do: anything to save their child’s life. We do it anyway in smaller dosages. I once paid $16 for cotton candy in Disney World to settle down our normally rational 4-year-old. (That scene didn’t make the mouse’s magical marketing department.) Within reason and in daily decisions, good parents “lay down their lives” a.k.a. personal comforts and preferences for the humans they care for and adore.

I don’t know what every good believer would do concerning the horror that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. If we do nothing, then we’ve chosen step 7 in my proposed list of response to tragic events. Believers can ignore or believers can engage.

Step 6. Here’s how we ignore...here is how I’m quick to ignore, though it’s hard to admit. My geographic and community proximity doesn’t merit traveling the 329 miles to Uvalde. There are believers there, community leaders there, pastors there, counselors there...so I’ll stay here. Now as a believer, you may feel moved, divinely directed even, to go to Uvalde. Then you should go. I’ve not sensed that to date, so I’ll stay. And since there’s not a school shooting here, and I pray to God there never is, here or anywhere again, then I’ll go from step 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and without intention step 6 and...

...go to that cookout.

...binge watch that show.

...plan that getaway.

...sleep, eat, work, play...leading to Step 7, repeat.

Repetition of good and bad “medicates” a society saying, “you take the good with the bad” and “it is what it is”—I hate both of those statement. That is quitting. That is raising the white flag. Shoulders shrug, head down, face long, move on.

Step 7...R-e-p-e-a-t. What if we changed one letter? Let’s lose the “a”. In its place, an “n.” Now we’re getting somewhere.

In this perspective, I’m defining believers as individuals who in this life have invited God to step into their messy lives. Thusly scripture instructs us that forgiven people forgive. Jesus’s summation of over 600 religious laws is “Love God and Love others” (see Matthew 22). Jesus never avoided complicated people and messy lives. Also, upon repentance and salvation (accepting Jesus as Lord) believers are not caught away from this world to another, more Heavenly location with endless golf, pork barbecue with mustard sauce, and only dogs with no cats. (I lost some of you there...just easing the tension...come back!)

God leaves believers here to step into messy lives because OUR lives ARE messy. Now this isn’t a “pass” for me to stay “messy”. That would be adopting the mantra, “It is what it is,” dismissing personal responsibility. But if step 7 is “Repent”, for believers and unbelievers alike, then I believe we break the tragic cycle.

“Repent” is a beautiful word! No one can become a believer without repentance! Repentance unites us—a need for grace, love, and acceptance from a savior who loves me, loves us, despite our messiness.

This writing is incomplete. The solution is as complex as our society finds itself. For now, for me, maybe for you, I’m ready to break this cycle of violence in America. For now, I’ll sign off with a new proposed list.

What changes the cycle?

What if a new step 7 cycles to healing and not another tragedy?

Step 1...repent.

Step 2... be still.

Step 3... pray and listen.

Step 4... respond in love, check all reactions with scripture.

Step 5... express thanks.

Step 6... extend help; receive help.

Step 7...repeat.

Pray for Uvalde.

Now more than ever...

Pastor Jack Hunt is pastor of The Well Church in Aledo.