Early this morning, I was shaken out of my slumber multiple times by the sound of my phone. I was initially able to ignore it but the alert seemed to get louder each time. So eventually I rolled over, reached towards my nightstand, picked up my phone and read the notification.
3:26 AM - "Multiple injuries following shooting at Orlando Nightclub, Say Police"
I have become accustomed to these early morning ABC News notifications on both national and international breaking news, and my routine has been to read it and say a pray for those involved. Yes, while I know it is sad to say it has become routine, it is the reality of the world we live in today. I followed my routine and said a prayer for that city and those involved. I turned over realizing that it was a possibility that some involved in the shooting may never get that luxury again.
After going back to sleep, I awoke again a couple hours later...another breaking news alert.
5:02 AM - "Orlando police say shooter inside nightclub is dead; shooting 'is a mass casualty situation,' according to authorities"
Same routine, and back to sleep...
6:33 AM - "Multiple people dead, at least 42 injured after shooting at Orlando nightclub, police say"
6:46 AM - "UPDATE: Approximately 20 people killed in Orlando nightclub shooting; FBI investigating as 'domestic terror incident'"
Two more notifications, and I finally decided to turn on the television and see what CNN was saying. I will admit that at this hour on a Sunday, I'm not very alert. Even though the tv was on, I missed most of it. However I knew lives had been lost, and worlds had been shattered. I knew that some parents had lost their children simply because they went out to have a good time at a nightclub in Orlando. I knew due to no fault of their own, another person/ other people had decided the value of 20 people's lives --and it was not as valuable as his or hers.
Finally I got out of bed shortly before 9 am. I started to make breakfast --an omelet and buttered toast. I prepared to go to church where I was sure we would pray for those involved as a congregation. As I was getting dressed, I got a feeling not to go. I don't know why, but one thing that I have learned is to follow how I feel. So instead I moved back to the living room and checked my phone again...
9:35 AM - " At least 50 dead in Orlando nightclub shooting, law enforcement officials say"
Fifty people? What in the world? What kind of weapon did this guy have? How did this happen? Why did this happen? Did someone turn down a dance? Was this person or people the sad, lonely people we often hear about who snap and just decided to kill those living the lives they feel they are owed? Why target a nightclub? Who were these people?
I went to the trustworthy internet and saw that they guy had been identified, tied to terrorism, and pledged allegiance to ISIS. I continued to read the updated online and saw this was gay club. I then wondered if my suspicions about the congregation's activities at church were correct. Would we have prayed for them? Would we have discussed it all?
I went to Facebook again, as the many times I'd checked it before this time, there hadn't been much there. No reposts, no comments, no outrage, no sadness, no prayers. But then it happened --the person who set as a status dictating who could mourn and who could not. In a world where unsolicited advice is as easy to find as air, I tend to take it with a grain of salt, but this person wanted to specify that if I believe homosexuality is a sin, my thoughts and prayers, were no good. Right now they don't care whether I'm Christian or atheist. At this time, I don't think the families of those killed care about political agendas or even gun laws. They simply want to not feel the pain they feel right now.
I am a Christian and I do believe that, like murder, overeating, sex before marriage, and drinking to the point of drunkeness, homosexuality is a sin. However I also believe God values the lives of people. By that I don't mean He doesn't care what you do. I mean he cares who you are, and not the adjectives that describe you. Gay, straight, black, white, fat, skinny, drunk, high, sexy, ugly, tall, short, smart, funny, dim witted, strong, weak...doesn't matter. However this is not a "convert you to Christianity" post. Prior to 10 AM, I didn't know the club was a gay club, but I prayed for those people at least twice--because they are people. At 6 AM I didn't know these people's sin, and as I type at 3:24 PM, I still don't. I know they are dead because someone thought they should be and carried out action against them.
While my religion does give a lot of sins against God, it also give some instructions. One that I have read (not heard) is to love one another as He loved us. I don't get to decide who is worth God's love. I don't even get to decide who deserves my love. Regardless of what I have done, He has loved me. Why should I think He'd feel differently about someone who identifies with being gay?
I don't get to decide who deserves a prayer, and neither do you. It does not matter what I believe or even what you believe, as long as we believe in the value of human life. I would think that would be common ground, but it seems lines are drawn in all aspects. You don't have to believe what I believe, but you certainly have the right to believe it. I have the right to believe that there are sins, I do not have the right kill you to stop your sins. You have the right to disagree with my beliefs, but you don't have the right to kill me to stop my beliefs.
So I will certainly think about the victims of the Orlando night club shooting. I will certainly pray for them and those who lost them. Why? They were lives cut short. They were human lives. They were people who had families. They had friends. They probably had plans for later today. They had responsibilities, obligations, interests, goals, and people who loved them. I was commanded to love them. And I do.
