Where's the Love?

I woke up Sunday morning as if it were just another day. And in many ways – for me, anyway – it was just another day. But for those who lost their lives or their livelihoods in Orlando early Sunday morning, it was anything but just another day.

The immediate reactions ranged from hate crime accusations to terrorist assumptions to political aggressiveness. This may have been a hate crime. We don’t know yet. This may have been a terrorist act. We don’t know yet. This most certainly was an opportunity for our elected officials (or hopefuls) to curry favor with their constituents on whichever issues they preferred the most, whether they had to do with gay rights, gun rights or anti-terrorism policies. For some, it might even come down to curfew issues.

Regardless of the reactions, the one thing that needs to remain as a constant is love. Because the alternative is not acceptable. Under no circumstances should we allow those who want to infringe upon our rights and our livelihoods to win by causing us to hate.

Some of the reactions already are showing a level of hate, including some targeting Donald Trump for his statements and some targeting liberals for even suggesting this was a second amendment issue. But this is not the time for people to stand on soap boxes and suggest they are suddenly experts on what is best in this situation. What is best is to love people.

I went to church Sunday morning and the service was consistent with prior services up until the end. Just prior to excusing everyone from the service (minus the dozens who flocked out early, which is a story for another day), the campus pastor brought up the actions of just a few hours earlier. And he asked that we not get caught up in the overreactions and for us to just love our fellow man. Then he prayed and we all stood in awkward silence as he encouraged us to just do what was right and not what might temporarily make us feel better.

 
Love is all we need. Even if we don’t feel the love in return.