Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church Shooting

I'm feeling very thoughtful today.

My brain is dashing from one thought to another. There are connections and revelations and epiphanies colliding in my mind.

Normally, I lay everything out and then allow the words to fall into a pattern or a conclusion.

Perhaps that will work today. Perhaps not.

We had a racist, hateful shooting at a church directed against faithful members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in our country. 9 people are now dead.

I can't help but think of the word Emanuel as I read this news.

And then I think of this song.



O Come O Come Emanuel.

And ransom captive Israel.

That mourns in lonely exile here.

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice

Rejoice

Emmanuel

Shall come to the thee oh Israel.


Oh come thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave.

Rejoice!

Rejoice!

Emmanuel

Shall come to thee oh Israel. 



O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might,

Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,

In ancient times did'st give the Law,

In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice!

Rejoice!

Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel. 




And that's all I can say right now. I've found my conclusion.

Our brother murdered 9 of our brothers and sisters in cold blood.

We are all a part of God's family. Our brothers and sisters are hurting and afraid.

For some, the only comforting thought is that Christ has offered himself as a ransom for our sorrow. This mortal coil will end and God will come again. He will come to us. He will come to thee, oh Israel. He will come to our hearts and lift us through the pain and the terror. He will walk with us and protect us. We mourn in exile on this cold blue earth. We cry in our solitude. We watch as tribes and groups split from one another and find arbitrary reasons to hate and to hammer away at unity and love. We find reasons to fear and to distance.

Emmanuel shall come to thee. Emmanuel will come.

In cloud and majesty and awe.

Sometimes it is good to remember this.

Remember.

And prepare.