What We Can Do

There is something I can do.

The shootings.
Grieving families.
Unimaginable tragedy.

Uvalde, TX. Buffalo, NY. Laguna Woods, CA. The list continues.

How can this happen?
The answers just don’t come.

It would be easy to turn off our TVs, shut out the news, and hope it doesn’t happen again in our community.

And for some, it’s best to step away from the horror and the tragedy. We each have our own health boundaries.

But, for most of us, we can’t ignore the reality. We shouldn’t.
We can do something. And we must.

We don’t have to wait for someone else—politicians—to fix it.
We can do something today right in our own community.

We love. We engage. We act.

My thoughts here are not profound and are not intended to be “the” answer to a complex problem in a sinful world.
They are, though, the thoughts from your neighbor down the street. Your girlfriend who wants to link arms with you to help our other neighbors. Your friend who, like you, wants the horribleness to stop.

Micah 6:8 has been beating in my heart.
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

The Message paraphrase says it this way:
He’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love.

I can’t fix what happened in those communities.
But I can do something in St. Paul, MN.

Let’s lead with love.
Every single day. With every single person. In every single situation.
We can …
Shove aside—and I mean shove—every inkling to respond with hurtful words. With sarcasm or judgement. With the need to be right. Shove aside the desire to get even. The unforgiveness. Bitterness.

There is no excuse for not loving our neighbor. God has told us that it’s the most important commandment.

You and I know this. And I think we truly want to obey these words. Let’s keep working at loving—even when it is the toughest.

By the way, this starts with us checking our own hearts. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come. (Mark 7:21) Our actions won’t change until our heart changes.

 

Let’s engage.
Let’s listen, look past the differences, and seek understanding of those with different views. How about if we’re slower to react and quicker to ask questions?
We can …
Do this from our neighborhoods. We can invite. Reach out. See the connections that bring us together. We can look for micro moments in the grocery store line to whisper with our eyes, You matter.

Let’s act.
I don’t have my game plan figured out on how I can be part of the bigger solution. But my heart says I’d better get more involved.
We can …
Speak for those whose voices are ignored. Stand up for those whose power is diminished. Fight for the rights of the oppressed.

We can start by loving, engaging, and acting today for those around us. In conversations. The glances we share with people. The words we use. The letters and emails we write.

These choices and actions in no way diminish the horror of mass shootings.
But it keeps us from feeling powerless and insignificant.
You and I can be influencers. For something good.

Wouldn’t it be something?
If we each choose to lead with love, engage, and act?
It will make a difference.

It’s something we can do. Starting right now. No training required.

May God’s peace and grace flood the hearts of grieving families today.

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Comments

  1. Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you, Gaye for this encouraging and hope filled post — giving us a way to move forward.

  2. Hello Gaye,
    I heard you speak in Sioux Falls, SD at the Presentation Sisters Retreat and enjoyed your message and manner in which you presented uplifting thoughts and inspiration. I am a South Dakota State officer in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas organization and am currently the representative of the State Board to our upcoming 2023 State Catholic Daughter convention to be held in Sioux Falls April 13-16, 2023. We are looking for a speaker and I am wondering what your availability, fee and working arrangements are to speak for approximately 20 minutes on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at our evening banquet.

  3. I’m so glad we’ve connected, Carolyn!
    I look forward to hearing from you in September. It will be a treat to be with you!
    With gratitude,
    Gaye

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