This week didn't feel very peaceful in Las Vegas. There was another mass shooting, and I was heartbroken to learn that this wasn't even the first shooting of the week. The people of San Antonio and Austin were also recovering from their own acts of senseless violence.
It sometimes feels pretty depressing to look at the state of the world. I met with the church's youth group on Wednesday night after the shooting. We talked about how to find hope, and we asked if it was realistic to pray for peace. To some of them, these horrifying moments feel almost normal. They even expect tragedy to show up in their lives. Everyday a new pain or evil makes the headlines, and it feels like there is no way to bring about change.
It's true that we don't have all the answers. As a pastor, I wish I could offer so much more. However, we can all share a little bit of love today. We can still gather together. The youth group still took time to light candles and offer our prayers. We still found value in coming together to stand for the love of Jesus. Personally, this is what makes the church so important. We come back, time and again, with the hope of Christ. We do what we can to believe in peace, because we find the light of Jesus in our neighbors. Our world is filled with all kinds of fears and doubts. As Christians, we never bury our heads in the sand to the evil in the world, but I hope you can also find truth in God's words.
We follow a Savior who brings new life to the world. We follow a King who gave up everything for us so that we could find peace. This weekend we are going to light the second candle on the Advent wreath. This candle represents Peace. Although you may not feel very peaceful in our world today, this is a time for us to lift each other up. This is a time to share a little extra love and grace with the people in your life. Don't be afraid to show the love you have. Open your heart... God's light is shining!
Blessings!
Brian Ward
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