It was a little after 6am when I got up one morning this past week, and as I was scrolling through Facebook I came across a comic. You usually think of comics as something funny but this comic showed not only the sad reality of our times regarding mass shootings but also our response to it. The comic pictured a person standing in front of the greeting card section in a store. Instead of that section of cards being labeled as “Birthday” or even “Get Well” it was “Mass Shooting.” For me, the comic brought out a couple of points the first being that these shootings are becoming so common place that we now accept them as a part of life instead of considering them tragedies that are out of the norm. The second point brought to my mind how many people send greeting cards for everything: birthdays, get well, sympathy, anniversary, thank you, clergy appreciation month (that was October by the way according to the greeting card section I saw), a great number of holidays, etc. How do you empathize with someone affected by a mass shooting? Should you send a “thinking of you” or “sympathy” card? For this level of tragedy is a card even appropriate? And if you send a card do you ever follow it up with anything else?
I don’t have the answer to why we seem to be seeing more mass shootings. And these events are not restricted to the cities. One of the most recent shooting was in a very rural area of Texas. I remember reading a new article about it and one person said something to the effect of “I never thought something like that would happen here. I thought this kind of thing only happened in the big cities.” So how do we respond? “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them…” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Yes, I know that scripture is talking about the return of Jesus. However, I think it also applies to us anytime we get too “comfortable.” Do we forget our mission? Do we follow through with the work we said we would do? Do we pray as we should?
How is the greeting card ministry of our church making an impact in the lives of those who have received cards? I’ve sent out a few but not many, and I’ve never followed up with the people I’ve sent the cards to. Several weeks ago I asked for prayers for a man whose wife died of cancer. I did send him a card from the church. Later I thought about sending another one or sending that little book we used to have on grief recovery. I never did either of those, and I found out a week or so ago that he has checked himself into a depression clinic. Where was his support group? Where was I? Did I really care about him? Or did I just send him a greeting card and then wash my hands saying I’ve done all I can do? What would I have wanted someone to do for me if I was in his situation? Whether we are talking about families affected by mass shootings or of another tragedy such as cancer we need to remember that following up with people is how we show that we really do care about them.
I remember when my friend Irene was sick. In the beginning, she received TONS of cards and she appreciated them so much. Her battle with cancer lasted about 2 years and by the end the cards and significantly dwindled. If you take long enough to die, people will stop caring because their lives are just too busy to hang on that long. The same goes for those who have had a loved one pass away. Another lady experienced that when her husband passed away. He had cancer for several years and people were very supportive for all those years which was great. However, when he died people showered her with cards and visits but after a couple of months it all stopped. The pain of her loss was still there but the people who promised to continue supporting her moved on with their lives. I pray we will not be like that at our church. I myself need to do better about following up with people. Are our lives so busy that we don’t have time to share the love of Jesus with those who are hurting for an extended time?
Jesus is our supreme example, “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Let us remember how Jesus ministered to people and make that our goal. To keep in touch with people we don’t have to sacrifice our jobs or family time etc. Even just remembering to send someone a note more often or a short call. Someway we can tell them that we care about them more than the initial greeting card. “But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief” (Job 16:5). As you go out into the world this week, remember how much God cares for you and for all people and therefore, how much we should also care for others. The golden rule applies not just when someone is hurting you and your reaction to that but also when others are hurting. “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31).