Our Divided House

 24 years ago, our country was struck with a tragedy that caused us to draw closer together. Now we have turned on each other.

There has been so much devastating news, and so many are quick to say "it's the left/right/black/white/trans/Christian/guns." I'm so grateful for the posts I've seen from people saying, "I didn't agree with Charlie Kirk, but he didn't deserve this." Those give me hope and keep my perspective clear that it's not just one group or the other. It's not one issue. The people whose lives have been taken and those who have committed these heinous acts are not defined by or the definition of their political affiliation/religion/race. My heart is heavy, but Lord help me not to place an individual's sins on an entire group of people. We need to see each other as fellow individuals. My black neighbor didn't kill Iryna. My liberal friend didn't kill Charlie. I don't know a single person on the left or right who condones school shootings (including the ones who own guns).

This idea that my opinion matters more than the individual who disagrees with me, even to their very life, has to end. It's selfish and evil. It begets division and hatred and murder. If we can't get over ourselves, we won't need to worry about war with any foreign country, because we're just going to destroy ourselves. We don't want civil war. Some think it's necessary, but I pray it never comes to that. Ask yourself if you really want your cousin, neighbor, colleague, or sister to die for their beliefs.

Please, America, remember what we knew in 2001. We have more in common than what divides us.