What you can do after orlando

​As a minister, I am supposed to have something to say. That’s why ministers have pulpits, even if at Grace we don’t really have such a thing. Ministers have been called to make sense of tragedy throughout American history.

I’ve got nothing. No wise words, no new insight, nothing. There isn’t anything anyone could say that will make sense of 49 innocent people lying dead in a nightclub.

In moments like these, when there are no words, when rage fills my veins, I desire to fill the void by at least doing something. If you are restless like me, wondering just what you can do, here is the list of “the something, anything” I created for my community.

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1. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. It might sound ridiculously simple, but I don’t think it is. In fact, it is bold and courageous to respond to violence with love. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. The clearest and single most important commandment Jesus offered to his disciples was this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22). Love is always the best and mightiest response. Love never ends. Love conquers all.
2. Understand the multifaceted issues that are at hand: Gun Violence, Religious Extremism, & Hate Crimes. First, this mass shooting occurred because Americans have access to semi-automatic weapons. In Florida there is no waiting period to buy the semi-automatic AR-15 rifle that Mateen legally purchased and used to kill. Second, Mateen was first and foremost a religious extremist. His particular faith tradition was Islam, however, Islam is not an inherently violent religion. We cannot hold Muslims around the world responsible for Mateen’s actions. Finally, unlike other mass shootings such as Sandy Hook, this was a hate crime aimed specifically at the LGBTQ community. A hate crime is a crime motivated by prejudice.
3. Call your senators and representative and insist that enough is enough. Urge them to do something about gun control NOW, even during this election year. Tell them, at minimum, to reinstate the 1994 federal assault weapon ban that expired in 2004. This law banned the AR-15, the gun used by Omar Mateen. To find your senators number: senate.gov/senators/contact. To find your representative: house.gov/representatives/
4. Join Everytown.org, a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence. Everytown’s goal is to become a louder and more powerful voice than the NRA. #DisarmHate
5. Stand with the LGBTQ community visibly and boldly. Raise a rainbow flag outside your home, post a rainbow flag in your cubby at work, wear your rainbow t-shirt, change your profile picture to a rainbow. Never underestimate how this visible sign up support speaks love to the LGBTQ community.
6. Follow Kimberly Knight on Facebook. Why? Well, it’s helped me. More specifically, Kimberly is Minister of Digital Community at Extravagance UCC. Her Facebook presence is faithful, funny, and spot-on. Kimberly is also a lesbian minister. She has offered a perspective these past few days that is deeply needed. Did I mention she also lives in FL?
7. Send a card to First Church of Christ, 4605 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32812. Remind them they are not alone. Tell them you are praying for them as they struggle to be a “first responder church” to the many that are hurting and asking, “Where is God in all of this?”
8. Stop shopping at Walmart. There are lots of great reasons. Today’s reason: Walmart is the largest gun seller in America.
9. Pray. Pour your lament out to God. As you pray, however, remember the many people of faith who prayed and acted. Ask for courage and even some words.
10. Tell everyone you are a LGBTQ loving, can’t stand guns Jesus follower. That will surely disarm them! Speak it loudly so the world knows there are many people of faith whose very religion arms them with love and inclusion, not hate and violence.