![\"Lamenting](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/2208\/2024\/09\/Black-and-Yellow-Elegant-Worship-Sunday-Service-YouTube-Thumbnail.jpg\")
<\/a>Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\u201cLord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy\u201d.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nDisclaimer. I don\u2019t have any answers for these senseless acts committed in the last few days. . My prayers and condolences to those who lost loved ones this week. This musing was the product of a conversation with a dear older soul that I work with every week.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAnother senseless act has impacted children again<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Once again there was another violent day at a school. I immediately had a wave of thankfulness that I don\u2019t have high school kids anymore. Those poor souls who lost their lives. Then I felt utter dejection for those parents who do have kids in high school. Will they be safe? How do we know that someone will not sneak in with a gun? Why does this happen? I am not going to argue for gun laws, I don\u2019t know enough about them. I live in a house of trained soldiers who understand guns and their purpose. They are safely kept in a safe and only used when going to the range or\u00a0 in the rare case we need protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHearing the news makes me long for a simpler time<\/h3>\n
To give you a little perspective, I grew up in the deep south. I can remember riding with my mom to drop my big brother at high school, there were gun racks on the trucks with guns in those racks. The kids parked their trucks, attended school and never brought those guns anywhere near danger. Hunting was the way of life in the hills of Appalachia. Fast forward 7 years to my high school time in the 90s, well, I don\u2019t recall guns on the gun rack, but there were still racks on the backs of the trucks. The most devious activity? Sneaking out to the back of the bleachers near the football field to smoke cigarettes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lamenting](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/2208\/2024\/09\/Beige-Black-Do-Not-Be-Anxious-Scripture-Quote-Motivational-Instagram-Post-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Image Courtesy of Canva Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWe were mischievous but not malicious<\/h3>\n
It seems like a bygone time. A time where people snuck alcohol (I promise mom, I never did), cigarettes and an occasional stolen kiss in the smelly hallway near the gym. Now our kids have to fear for their safety just walking through the doors of the school. Sure, in my time there were mean girls and boys with a head full of themselves but we understood a simple principle. The Love of God and Neighbors. There was no question, \u201cWhen will the next act happen?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat has happened to humanity?<\/h3>\n
What happened? How have we traversed down this nefarious path? Well, I have some assumptions but I am not going to give you mine. Rather, I am going to give you the thoughts of a little old lady who I work with 3 times a week. Her wisdom is like Socrates giving us some good nuggets to live by. She\u2019s lived, loved, lost husbands, lost friends and done the things (in the words of my kids). She possesses what I do not. Advanced age and wisdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lamenting](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/2208\/2024\/09\/Gray-Bold-Typography-Praying-Hands-Facebook-Post.jpg\")
<\/a>Image Courtesy of Canva Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA little old lady had some wise words<\/h3>\n
This week this dear one came to work with me in physical therapy with a burden in her heart. She had heard of the recent violence in yet another school. As I started to work with her, in the middle of our session she stopped and wept. When I asked her what was wrong she had quite a lot to say. \u201cLove, I lived through World War II.<\/a> I was blasted on my way to the shelter in England, I received a concussion and a pretty bad headache but I lived. I made my way through the air force and Vietnam, and some pretty bad times, yet I still never wished ill on my neighbor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIn her pain, she held on to her humanity<\/h3>\n
I lived through 2 men leaving me after several years of marriage and yet I still lived. Recently, I\u2019ve almost lost my eyesight and I still choose to live. Through all these circumstances I never once wished violence on anyone. Not even the Germans who were bombing my homeland. I may have been angry, hurt, upset and anxious, but I never once wanted those who wished me harm any ill, nor their families to be harmed. Do you know why, love? I had the foundation of the Sunday School Generation.<\/a> We were at church every time the doors opened. We learned to love our neighbors,<\/a> we learned to love God and we learned to pray.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSuch simple acts, yet profound consequences<\/h3>\n
After hearing those words I couldn\u2019t help but shake my head in agreement. I too had grown up in the late 80s and early 90s. Every single time the doors of the church were opened we were there. Scripture drills were plenty, hymns were sung until they imprinted on my very musical soul. We were learning about community and humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lamenting](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/2208\/2024\/09\/Brown-and-Peach-Modern-International-Day-of-Charity-Facebook-Post.jpg\")
<\/a>Image Courtesy of Canva Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHave we lost the Sunday School generation?<\/h3>\n
I agreed with Miss Anne. After she regained her composure she said, \u201cI lament the Sunday School generation, it may have had its problems but it also had some very wonderful rewards. Tell me love, did you ever fear going to school?\u201d I took a moment and thought, \u201cI may have feared what people thought of my hair but I never feared for my life.\u201d Ms. Anne shook her head and said, \u201cThat\u2019s right love, you and those around you, well most of them, had a foundation of faith. Their lives may not have been perfect but they were grounded in humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Have we lost the Sunday School Generation?\u00a0 If you look at statistical analysis of church attendance<\/a>, it has gone down significantly in the last 50 years. Why is that? Life has gotten easier, technology has gotten better and the world wide bug impacted just about everything. If we don\u2019t have a goal to serve God and others what do we have? Anger, selfishness, no awareness of anyone around us and a general sense of loneliness. What did getting up and going to church teach us? The world is an enormous place that is just not about us, but rather about something bigger than us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSunday School taught us humanity 101<\/h3>\n
Sunday School, even with its issues, taught us something about life. It taught us about humanity and the ability to understand each other. Sunday School also taught us to pray for those who do not agree with us. Sunday school taught us to pray for those who persecute us rather than act in anger. At the end of my conversation with Ms. Anne she had a few more words to say, \u201cIt is time to return back to the basic tenets of humanity. To listen, to try to understand, to give the truth humbly and to respect each other\u2019s humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lamenting](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/2208\/2024\/09\/Black-Pray-for-their-Family-Instagram-Post.jpg\")
<\/a>Image Courtesy of Canva Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPerhaps It is time for some Lamentation<\/h3>\n
Disclaimer. I don\u2019t have any answers for these senseless acts committed in the last few days. . My prayers and condolences to those who lost loved ones this week. This musing was the product of a conversation with a dear older soul that I work with every week.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Once again there was another violent day at a school. I immediately had a wave of thankfulness that I don\u2019t have high school kids anymore. Those poor souls who lost their lives. Then I felt utter dejection for those parents who do have kids in high school. Will they be safe? How do we know that someone will not sneak in with a gun? Why does this happen? I am not going to argue for gun laws, I don\u2019t know enough about them. I live in a house of trained soldiers who understand guns and their purpose. They are safely kept in a safe and only used when going to the range or\u00a0 in the rare case we need protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To give you a little perspective, I grew up in the deep south. I can remember riding with my mom to drop my big brother at high school, there were gun racks on the trucks with guns in those racks. The kids parked their trucks, attended school and never brought those guns anywhere near danger. Hunting was the way of life in the hills of Appalachia. Fast forward 7 years to my high school time in the 90s, well, I don\u2019t recall guns on the gun rack, but there were still racks on the backs of the trucks. The most devious activity? Sneaking out to the back of the bleachers near the football field to smoke cigarettes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It seems like a bygone time. A time where people snuck alcohol (I promise mom, I never did), cigarettes and an occasional stolen kiss in the smelly hallway near the gym. Now our kids have to fear for their safety just walking through the doors of the school. Sure, in my time there were mean girls and boys with a head full of themselves but we understood a simple principle. The Love of God and Neighbors. There was no question, \u201cWhen will the next act happen?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What happened? How have we traversed down this nefarious path? Well, I have some assumptions but I am not going to give you mine. Rather, I am going to give you the thoughts of a little old lady who I work with 3 times a week. Her wisdom is like Socrates giving us some good nuggets to live by. She\u2019s lived, loved, lost husbands, lost friends and done the things (in the words of my kids). She possesses what I do not. Advanced age and wisdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This week this dear one came to work with me in physical therapy with a burden in her heart. She had heard of the recent violence in yet another school. As I started to work with her, in the middle of our session she stopped and wept. When I asked her what was wrong she had quite a lot to say. \u201cLove, I lived through World War II.<\/a> I was blasted on my way to the shelter in England, I received a concussion and a pretty bad headache but I lived. I made my way through the air force and Vietnam, and some pretty bad times, yet I still never wished ill on my neighbor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I lived through 2 men leaving me after several years of marriage and yet I still lived. Recently, I\u2019ve almost lost my eyesight and I still choose to live. Through all these circumstances I never once wished violence on anyone. Not even the Germans who were bombing my homeland. I may have been angry, hurt, upset and anxious, but I never once wanted those who wished me harm any ill, nor their families to be harmed. Do you know why, love? I had the foundation of the Sunday School Generation.<\/a> We were at church every time the doors opened. We learned to love our neighbors,<\/a> we learned to love God and we learned to pray.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After hearing those words I couldn\u2019t help but shake my head in agreement. I too had grown up in the late 80s and early 90s. Every single time the doors of the church were opened we were there. Scripture drills were plenty, hymns were sung until they imprinted on my very musical soul. We were learning about community and humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I agreed with Miss Anne. After she regained her composure she said, \u201cI lament the Sunday School generation, it may have had its problems but it also had some very wonderful rewards. Tell me love, did you ever fear going to school?\u201d I took a moment and thought, \u201cI may have feared what people thought of my hair but I never feared for my life.\u201d Ms. Anne shook her head and said, \u201cThat\u2019s right love, you and those around you, well most of them, had a foundation of faith. Their lives may not have been perfect but they were grounded in humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Have we lost the Sunday School Generation?\u00a0 If you look at statistical analysis of church attendance<\/a>, it has gone down significantly in the last 50 years. Why is that? Life has gotten easier, technology has gotten better and the world wide bug impacted just about everything. If we don\u2019t have a goal to serve God and others what do we have? Anger, selfishness, no awareness of anyone around us and a general sense of loneliness. What did getting up and going to church teach us? The world is an enormous place that is just not about us, but rather about something bigger than us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sunday School, even with its issues, taught us something about life. It taught us about humanity and the ability to understand each other. Sunday School also taught us to pray for those who do not agree with us. Sunday school taught us to pray for those who persecute us rather than act in anger. At the end of my conversation with Ms. Anne she had a few more words to say, \u201cIt is time to return back to the basic tenets of humanity. To listen, to try to understand, to give the truth humbly and to respect each other\u2019s humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAnother senseless act has impacted children again<\/h3>\n
Hearing the news makes me long for a simpler time<\/h3>\n
<\/a>We were mischievous but not malicious<\/h3>\n
What has happened to humanity?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>A little old lady had some wise words<\/h3>\n
In her pain, she held on to her humanity<\/h3>\n
Such simple acts, yet profound consequences<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Have we lost the Sunday School generation?<\/h3>\n
Sunday School taught us humanity 101<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Perhaps It is time for some Lamentation<\/h3>\n