A Prayer for Chardon High School
Oh, God, not another one…
More teenage lives shattered by violence.
Three dead.
More hurt, “critical condition” they say.
Whatever that means.
And one life shattered by being violent.
You can hear the echoes of pain in the news reports–
how there were signs, warnings, unheeded.
But honestly, there’s nothing that can be said to change what has happened.
Nothing to be said to the grievers but “I’m so sorry.”
Nothing to say to God…
except…
How many, God?
How many schools
How many students
How many teachers
How many shooters
How many more, God?
And there are so many more whose lives are broken
who don’t make the news.
Lives broken by violence, addiction, poverty, abuse…
Lives stolen. Potential lost. Thousands left behind.
Preventing it happening again?
People talk about solving the symptoms–
ignoring underlying issues.
While the Congress bickers about birth control
our teens are killing each other.
While denominations squabble about confessions,
our teens are killing each other.
While this country boasts itself as the greatest country on earth,
OUR TEENS ARE KILLING EACH OTHER.
Oh, God, have mercy on us–all of us.
I can see in my mind’s eye parents weeping for their sons’ lives cut short–
The victim’s parents and the shooter’s parents.
Oh, God, have mercy on us–all of us.
I can see in my mind’s eye schools on lockdown–
Chardon High School and high school running drills tomorrow morning.
Oh, God, have mercy on us–all of us.
I can see in my mind’s eye pastors preaching on this–
One saying empty words of blame and one saying God is still with us.
Oh, God, have mercy on us–all of us.
For Chardon High School,
for the students, for the teachers, for the staff,
for the parents, for the friends, for the community–
God show your presence to them, how you are there in the midst of this tragedy.
Keep outsiders from saying stupid things to the mourners.
Because there is nothing to say, except…
“I’m so sorry.”