Loneliness and Brokenness

This week has been a week in which violence; pain and tragedy rocked,

shocked and stripped the innocence of many. It touched the lives of my

families, including mine.

On Monday morning, I received a phone call. On the other end was silence. Then I heard sobbing, a heaving fearful sobbing. It was Jenna, “Daddy, I was robbed.” She works at Bath and Body in One Pacific Place, 105th and Center. For the rest of the week she was afraid to leave the house. The robber not only stole the bank deposits, he stole Jenna’s innocence. He robbed her of a sense of security.

Then on Wednesday we hear about the horrifying shooting eight victims and a suicide at WestRoads Mall. Nine people dead, 20 injured and many family members and friends left to grieve and search for answers in the midst.
Yes, this has been a week in which we, again, were stripped of our innocence and our sense of security.

Each time a small child is killed by a stray bullet in North Omaha we feel the pain. Each time some killed because of a drunk driver, we feel the pain. Each time a person become addicted to “crack”, “meth” or tries for the first time, marijuana we feel the pain, each time someone come to suffer from depression, we feel the pain. Each time divorce or separation happens we feel the pain.

Jesus cries out in anguish for a city that will sleep with even more awareness of our brokenness and the fragility of life.

I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.” Psalms 69:29

We can find comfort, hope, peace and salvation in God.

On tomorrow night the Omaha area United Methodist Churches will be having a prayer vigil at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church 120th and Burke at 7.PM. You are encouraged to attend this time of praying, hoping comforting and being comforted in the love and peace of Christ.

Peace – God Peace – Shalom

Pastor William.