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This week, my heart has been heavy as I’ve struggled to hold onto the news of Renee Good’s death, an event that has shaken so many of us. We name her not as a headline, but as a real person whose loss is felt deeply by her family, her loved ones, and all who knew her. When something like this happens, words can feel painfully thin and answers heartbreakingly far away. And yet we trust that God walks with us even in our sorrow, especially in moments of heartbreak, confusion, and anger.
I am continually reminded that our faith begins with the conviction that every person is created in the image of God and is deeply loved, just as they are. When violence takes a life, it is never just an isolated event. It touches families, neighborhoods, and communities, and it wounds something in all of us. It also invites us to be honest about our grief and to bring our lament before God, who can hold even what we don’t know how to name.
In my Confirmation class a few days ago, we talked about how one of the gifts of our Reformed tradition is the reminder that God alone is Lord of the Conscience. That means faithful discipleship can look like thoughtful engagement with the world as it is, grounded in prayer and guided by love. I believe loving our neighbors includes caring about the realities of violence and injustice that affect our communities and being willing to work toward a more just and peaceful way forward.
We do not walk this path because we have easy answers or quick solutions. We walk it because we follow a God who chose to enter a broken world, who stands with those who suffer, and who calls the church to be a sign of hope. My prayer is that we will continue to walk together—holding one another with tenderness, speaking truth with compassion, and trusting that God is still at work, even in the midst of grief.
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