In the middle of summer, it is easy to see God's goodness in the long days, the lush trees, and the chirping birds. But at the same time, we are grappling with yet another episode of violence, the shootings at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. It's only natural for us to ask: Where is God in such a terrible tragedy? How do we respond with faith?

We naturally respond by grieving with those who are grieving, and by praying with and for them. We look at Jesus' wounded heart and trust that he weeps with us for all the victims and their families. Like his followers at Emanuel who welcomed a stranger into their Bible study, Jesus loved and welcomed all, and he too was killed as a result. We trust that Jesus loves and weeps for the one who caused this suffering, too, and for all who commit such violence - as hard as this may be for our own hearts to accept.

How should we respond as Jesus would to violence and hatred? In the midst of their grief, Jesus' followers in Charleston are giving a powerful and moving witness. Family members of the victims have chosen to publicly forgive. Interim pastor Norvel Goff declared, "We decided to come together rather than pull apart...It's our choice." What choices can we make to come together, rather than pull apart, with people in our families and communities? What walls need to come down in our own hearts, so that we can build new relationships? How is God calling each of us, today, to bring healing to our broken world? May we ponder these questions with Jesus and respond, trusting that Christ's love is victorious over all!