Sarah Too

Last week horribly and inexplicably, a tragedy befell innocents in a community in Connecticut. I, as well as others in my community in Iowa, felt shocked, saddened, angered, and mystified. Almost as soon as the news broke, statements concerning gun control and the societal breakdown of values, ethics, and morals in the age of technology and instant gratification emerged from every corner of the U.S.



In my home church, which is a rather conservative Catholic community, my priest gave a homily this weekend about the tragedy that had me shaking my head. He admonished the lack of prayer in schools, and the breakdown of religious freedom (in a thinly-veiled reference to Obamacare's requirement that health insurance companies pay for female birth control, among other reproductive services) and of free speech (the constant barrage of opinions on talk radio, 24 hour cable news coverage, and the internet have me believing free speech is not in peril). My thoughts raced as he continued. I thought about Islamic states where religion is definitely not separated from state and how this has not exactly resulted in communities safe from terrorist acts. I thought about the dominance of the conservative religious right in the political discourse of the last election season. But ultimately, it took the wise words of a pastor friend of mine - one of my generation - to describe exactly how I felt about my priest's homily

>"I've seen a lot of comments on [Facebook] claiming that Friday's murders were our fault as a nation... something to the effect of, "What did you think would happen when we kicked God out of schools?"

For the record, you can't kick God out of anywhere, God doesn't really care if we've invited the Divine to our party. Whatever our remaining questions about this tragedy, we can all be sure God was with those students, teachers, and administrators on Friday. And I'm sure I could think of a worse message to send the families of the victims - this happened because God took a hike and abandoned your children, family, and friends - but it would be difficult.

So instead of pretending like somehow we caused this because we don't have prayer in schools anymore, how about we stick to praying for our schools and those in them - specifically for Sandy Hook Elementary. I have the sneaking suspicion it'd be a better use of our time and energy."

Instead of a message of hope, which is what I think so many of us are grasping for in the wake of this tragedy, my priest offered an empty and misguided admonishment. I take heart in my friend's gentle chiding of his (and others') message. It reminds us that God is bigger than any human institution - religion, government, or otherwise - and is ever present as long as we remember to turn toward him and toward his representatives here on Earth (i.e., our loved ones whether still with us or passed on to our memories).

I take further comfort in the words presented by none other than ultimate ambassador of neighborly goodness - Fred Rogers.



It is Christmas - the high festival of faith, hope, charity, and most of all LOVE. Hold tight to your loved ones this season, reach out to neighbors and strangers alike, and be the light throughout the year that we all constantly seek. Be the caring people - the helpers - that tragedies great and small require, whether it is hugging a friend following the loss of a relationship or reaching out to a lonely, troubled child with nowhere else to turn. I am convinced no act of kindness is too small and every act of kindness helps us fulfill our potential as human beings made in God's image. Merry Christmas, and may 2013 bring more joy than sorrow.