Aurora

  Until this morning, I'd never heard of Aurora, Colorado.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who had not.  Now, the city, its residents, the victims and their families are lifted up in prayer by me & many others who lament the terrible and tragic violence that took place in that dark and chaotic movie theater.  In place of what was intended to be a celebration of story-telling and artistic abilities, a slaughter broke out, and violence brought havoc, devastation and destruction to the real world.  (An author at RedLetterChristians reflects on the violence in the theater and on the screen)

  I was listening to the radio this morning and they were reporting on how a certain bloc of voters was going to vote a certain way because the politician was believed to be able to 'protect' their interests.  There is a whole world of lobbyists who look out for certain groups--they try to protect their interests, their gains.  It's not just political--we all seek protection from the chaos of the world, from the violence that runs rampant to the uncertainty that seems to loom within every day, embedded in what it means to be human.  We want protection and we want security, and we're thankful to those in the world who offer it to us.

  I can't help but hear the words of Jesus from Luke 12--this very night, your life may be demanded of you.

  There is no protection in this world big enough to stave off death.  We can delay it, hide it, pretend it does not loom at the door... but it's always near, and it will ultimately claim us all, no matter how much protection and security we believe we have obtained.  Our life is like a mist.  Only by the power of Christ do we find a security that is greater than death's power--this is the reason that Paul is able to taunt death, O death, where is thy sting?

  And so what does real protection, real security look like?  How do we live rooted in Jesus Christ, trusting him alone, while at the same time living in this world, a chaotic world filled with violent people and too many guns?  What does it look like to have our security in God, while confronting the violence that roams the streets, claiming too many lives?

  How does the church stand up and say enough is enough?  The church has been described as a colony of heaven in a country of death.  How do we display our true values, our true residency, and offer another narrative, one of peace and hope, rooted in the grace and love of God?

  I can't say exactly why that shooting happened last night.  I know that sin is at the root of it, the brokenness that is a part of all of us, individually and collectively.  It is a brokenness that can only be healed by a Savior stronger than death, by love greater than the powers of sin.  We wait for the day when all will be made whole by him, and until then, we lift up in prayers those whose lives are shattered by the powers of sin and darkness, and we search for the presence of the light, hoping that our own lives reflect that light of love into the world, that hope may still reign in these dark and broken times.