{"id":1209,"date":"2012-12-14T12:18:36","date_gmt":"2012-12-14T19:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/paperbacktheology\/?p=1209"},"modified":"2012-12-14T12:29:21","modified_gmt":"2012-12-14T19:29:21","slug":"it-was-an-act-of-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/paperbacktheology\/2012\/12\/it-was-an-act-of-madness.html","title":{"rendered":"It Was An Act of Madness…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

It\u2019s been a hell of a week\u2026 Then around noon today I clicked on my news feed and the week got worse. Early reports are saying 18 children are dead after a madman opened fire in an elementary school in Connecticut \u2013 at least 8 adults killed as well. It was an act of madness. There is no way to make sense of this, don\u2019t even try. You cannot reason with a madman. You cannot swallow the darkness.<\/p>\n

How long Oh Lord?<\/p>\n

It takes all of my strength to say this: I refuse to believe that evil wins. I refuse to allow this to breed bitterness in my heart, to make me hate. When I am faced with unspeakable evil I will refuse to lash out, and I will only love, love, love. I will believe that love is stronger than hate. I will continue to hope in the face of evil and it will be my ultimate act of defiance<\/em>.<\/p>\n

So, don\u2019t get used to it.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t become numb to it.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t avoid the pictures and pretend like the world is not coming apart at the seams for these teachers, children, their families, and their community. Never get used to the darkness. \u201cRage, Rage, Rage, against the dying of the light.\u201d Weep with those who weep, to be sure, but never let evil tempt you to hate. Refuse to let this be one more thing that causes us to lunge at each other\u2019s throats.\u00a0The most radical thing to do right now is continue to pray and act and think and live in hope<\/em>. Hug your children. Pray for those who have been ravaged by this madman.<\/p>\n

When I don\u2019t know what to say, when the words fail me, I know it\u2019s time for the Psalms. Today I know that\u00a0Psalm 31<\/strong>\u00a0is saving my soul:<\/p>\n

1\u00a0<\/sup>In you,\u00a0Lord, I have taken refuge;
\nlet me never be put to shame;
\ndeliver me in your righteousness.
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>Turn your ear to me,
\ncome quickly to my rescue;
\nbe my rock of refuge,
\na strong fortress to save me.
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>Since you are my rock and my fortress,
\nfor the sake of your name\u00a0lead and guide me.
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>Keep me free from the trap\u00a0that is set for me,
\nfor you are my refuge.
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>Into your hands I commit my spirit;
\ndeliver me,\u00a0Lord, my faithful God.<\/p>\n

\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
\nas for me, I trust in the\u00a0Lord.
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
\nfor you saw my affliction
\nand knew the anguish\u00a0of my soul.
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>You have not given me into the hands\u00a0of the enemy
\nbut have set my feet in a spacious place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

9\u00a0<\/sup>Be merciful to me,\u00a0Lord, for I am in distress;
\nmy eyes grow weak with sorrow,
\nmy soul and body\u00a0with grief.
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>My life is consumed by anguish
\nand my years by groaning;
\nmy strength fails\u00a0because of my affliction,[b<\/a>]<\/sup>
\nand my bones grow weak.
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>Because of all my enemies,
\nI am the utter contempt\u00a0of my neighbors
\nand an object of dread to my closest friends\u2014
\nthose who see me on the street flee from me.
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>I am forgotten as though I were dead;
\nI have become like broken pottery.
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>For I hear many whispering,
\n\u201cTerror on every side!\u201d
\nThey conspire against me
\nand plot to take my life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

14\u00a0<\/sup>But I trust\u00a0in you,\u00a0Lord;
\nI say, \u201cYou are my God.\u201d
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>My times\u00a0are in your hands;
\ndeliver me from the hands of my enemies,
\nfrom those who pursue me.
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>Let your face shine\u00a0on your servant;
\nsave me in your unfailing love.
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>Let me not be put to shame,\u00a0Lord,
\nfor I have cried out to you;
\nbut let the wicked be put to shame
\nand be silent\u00a0in the realm of the dead.
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>Let their lying lips\u00a0be silenced,
\nfor with pride and contempt
\nthey speak arrogantly\u00a0against the righteous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

19\u00a0<\/sup>How abundant are the good things
\nthat you have stored up for those who fear you,
\nthat you bestow in the sight of all,
\non those who take refuge\u00a0in you.
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>In the shelter\u00a0of your presence you hide\u00a0them
\nfrom all human intrigues;
\nyou keep them safe in your dwelling
\nfrom accusing tongues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

21\u00a0<\/sup>Praise be to the\u00a0Lord,
\nfor he showed me the wonders of his love
\nwhen I was in a city under siege.
\n22\u00a0<\/sup>In my alarm\u00a0I said,
\n\u201cI am cut off\u00a0from your sight!\u201d
\nYet you heard my cry\u00a0for mercy
\nwhen I called to you for help.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

23\u00a0<\/sup>Love the\u00a0Lord, all his faithful people!
\nThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0preserves those who are true to him,
\nbut the proud he pays back\u00a0in full.
\n24\u00a0<\/sup>Be strong and take heart,
\nall you who hope in the\u00a0Lord.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been a hell of a week\u2026 Then around noon today I clicked on my news feed and the week got worse. Early reports are saying 18 children are dead after a madman opened fire in an elementary school in Connecticut \u2013 at least 8 adults killed as well. It was an act of madness. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1118,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nIt Was An Act of Madness...<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's been a hell of a week... Then around noon today I clicked on my news feed and the week got worse. 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