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Good morning, Saints, and Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!
Last week was difficult on the campus of Crean Lutheran High School, and likely for your family. And for America. As we pre-prayered for the week, we anticipated lifting up in prayer for Patriots Day all those who perished and all those impacted by the loss through the senseless acts of terrorism of 9/11. A day our students have only heard accounts about and were not alive to remember. Through a drastic and sinister turn of events, our attention, and their attention, turned towards something unbelievable, something we dared not even think about on American soil: the assassination of a Christian father, husband, and Truthspeaker, Mr. Charlie Kirk.
Regrettably, this may be a memory they remember for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, through mass social media, many have seen an act and an image that can’t be unseen. Similar events in our history include the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln (1865), Garfield (1881), McKinley (1901), and Kennedy (John F., 1963). A shockingly long list of U.S. Presidents. Other notable American activists and politicians include Malcolm X (1965), Martin Luther King Jr. (1968), and Kennedy (Robert F., 1968); musicians Lennon (1980), Shakur (1996), Notorious B.I.G. (1997), and Jam Master Jay (2002), along with many others. In the lives of our students, this is enormous for their generation.
This event is even more impactful for the age groups just older than them, college-aged students and young adults in and around that age group, where Mr. Kirk made his biggest impact and spent the most time in his ministry. That’s not to say we adults weren’t flabbergasted, shocked, and speechless thinking about the impact this has on our nation and about the impact in our own lives via relationships we have with our spouses, our children, and with others.
I’m unsure what your response was; mine was disbelief, shock, numbness, sadness, anger, more sadness, and renewed hope. Initially, I even thought that it might be a hoax. We all respond and grieve differently. We saw this in our students, faculty, and staff this past week. Many just shed tears from the mere fact that they can relate as a son, daughter, mom, dad, or spouse who sustained an unimaginable loss of a family member.
As Christian leaders, we must be concerned about our reflections and prayers, asking what we will do about this.
I have listened to and read many inspiring messages since the unfolding of this tragic event. I am sure that you have too. The President of our Synod, The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, shared a word for our focus and consideration. You may wish to read it yourselves: A pastoral word from President Harrison.
I did like the message he shared with young Christian men and women, concluding with this sentence:
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