This is Not Normal

I use to love watching the news and finding out all the happenings of the world. It made this large planet feel so much smaller to me. Periodically there was some devastating event that occurred around the world that struck me deeply and saddened me to no end. Periodically!

Today, it‘s hard to watch the news for more reasons than one. Mainly because that periodic devastating event has turned into a more frequent occurrence. Mass shootings in particular seen to occupy the headlines more than I care to see. More than any of us should see. This is not normal people!

The more we see it, I’m afraid the more we become desensitized to it. Almost as if this is normal. Our children and grandchildren will not know a world without mass terrorism be it foreign or domestic. Frightening! There are some who would like to blame the sitting president but then who’s to blame for the mass shootings that occurred in the previous administrations. I don’t believe this is the fault of one individual. It’s the fault of us ALL.

This is not a political issue. This is not an individual issue. This is a community issue, a heart issue. We were created to be in community with one another. To share in each other’s triumphs and tragedies. We have become so self absorbed and individualized that we no longer pay attention to those around us. We barely know our neighbors, if at all. When was the last time you conversated with a complete stranger, asked how they were and really listened? Encouraged someone lately who was seemingly having a rough day? For far too many of us the answers would be ‘not in a long time.’ This is not normal.

Instead of waiting for the next mass shooting to happen before you respond with compassion, how about we show compassion everyday. We inconvenience ourselves and go back to being a community that expresses love to everyone we come in contact with. Love still conquers all and it is contagious. That my friend, is normal.