Yes, blog number 3 in a short time.\u00a0 However, it is with a heavy heart that I write this one.<\/p>\n
Some of you know this, and some of you don\u2019t.\u00a0 Before Doug became a pastor, he was police officer. I was (and still am) very proud of him. Today, I am so grateful he is no longer in the police department.<\/p>\n
I remember when I first met him and some of the \u201cguys\u201d, there was an older gentleman who told me the best way for a family to get through each day. He said to see the badge as just identification.\u00a0 Identification much like the medical offices people wears so you knew who to go to.\u00a0 He also said, the gun is no different than the hammer the construction worker carries to the job site.<\/p>\n
That gentleman was right. It did make sending Doug off easier each day. When I think of those words today, I don\u2019t know if it would bring me the same comfort.<\/p>\n
Do not get me wrong the recent shootings in MN and LA; and the horrific attack on the Dallas police department, leaves me speechless.\u00a0 All people involved suffer from this. The police officer must live with knowledge that they killed someone. The families must learn to live with a loss of a loved one. Nobody wins.<\/p>\n
It is so sad that people are calling out racisms and that new gun laws must be put into place. I will not debate if it was racism or not, I was neither the officer nor the people involved.\u00a0 I will not debate if tougher gun laws are the answer.\u00a0 Nor will I speculate what or why things happened in Dallas.<\/p>\n
All this goes way beyond all that.\u00a0 It\u2019s about the people and the choices they make, and the things they chose to believe in. Fear, hate and lack of education can produce results that aren\u2019t always pleasant.\u00a0 I can play the side of the police and say, the shootings in MN and LA may have been based on a fear reaction. What are they afraid of? \u00a0Maybe the retaliation, or because of the growing number of people who \u201chate\u201d the police?<\/p>\n
I can play the victim side; shot first ask question later if I live? I can voice the mother\u2019s side of their cries at the loss of the child, and cries of the children at the loss of the mamma or daddy. I can also voice the spouse or significant other, in the loss of their true love.<\/p>\n
I could stand with the gun protesters and say, if the laws were tougher, it would keep the guns out of the people\u2019s hands. I can stand with those who say, a gun can\u2019t kill you until the trigger is pulled. Even then it needs to be loaded.\u00a0 I can even bring sarcasm into this and say, tougher laws really work don\u2019t they?\u00a0 Look how it\u2019s worked on the war against drugs.\u00a0 How about the drunk driver who\u2019s licensed was revoked? \u00a0Yeah that stopped them from driving again, didn\u2019t it.<\/p>\n
I could go on and on. I will probably upset or offend many people with this post too. But the reality is people are the problem.<\/p>\n
What should be taught is how to love one another regardless of where you come from, what you look like and even what you may eat for dinner. We need to be more forgiving of those who make poor choices and snap decisions.\u00a0 We need to pray for peace.<\/p>\n
Reba McEntire has a simple song; we all need to start singing. Here\u2019s in the YouTube link and below are the lyrics:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YHbv4M8d3As<\/a><\/p>\n Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Please pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace.\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for peace).\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Please pray for peace.\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace (pray),\u00a0Pray for peace.<\/p>\n Please pray for peace (pray for peace).\u00a0There’s power in the number of us praying here on earth. \u00a0We’re asking for a miracle.\u00a0Let your voice be the first, \u00a0to pray for peace (pray for our mother),\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for your father),\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for your children),\u00a0Please pray for peace (and pray for you).\u00a0Please pray for peace (pray for peace),\u00a0Pray for peace (you gotta pray for peace).\u00a0Pray for peace (oh you got to),\u00a0Please pray for peace (oh you got to, yeah yeah).\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for our leaders),\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for our forgiveness),\u00a0Pray for peace (we got to pray for freedom),\u00a0Please pray for peace (please pray for us). \u00a0Pray for peace (pray for our family)\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for your brothers),\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for our sisters).\u00a0Please pray for peace (please pray for me),\u00a0Pray for peace (oh pray for wisdom),\u00a0Pray for peace (and pray for knowledge),\u00a0Pray for peace (pray for understanding).\u00a0Please pray for peace (pray for the world).<\/p>\n Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for peace,\u00a0Pray for my peace (sisters, sisters).<\/p>\n Reba McEntire – Pray For Peace Lyrics | MetroLyrics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yes, blog number 3 in a short time.\u00a0 However, it is with a heavy heart that I write this one. Some of you know this, and some of you don\u2019t.\u00a0 Before Doug became a pastor, he was police officer. I … Continue reading