Horrible.

Today was another sad day.  I learned, along with the rest of the country, that 20 school children had been gunned down in Connecticut this morning.  Eight adults are also dead, including the shooter.  It is tragic and heartbreaking and I don't even want to try to understand.

Facebook is full of debates about gun control and how we deal with mental illness, but it's hard for me to really want to engage in those debates.  Right now I just want to be sad and angry about it.  So... tonight I don't really have anything to say about Advent.  I do still appreciate the anticipation of the coming of the baby who changed everything.  But tonight I want to reiterate that the king we remember waiting for DID come.  He was already one of us.  He has already endured a life of joy and love and pain and loss, a horrible massacre of children, the murder of his cousin, and death for crimes he did not commit.  He is Emmanuel, "God with us," and instead of thinking about waiting for him tonight, I want to remember that he IS present with us.

Platitudes are not helpful... I can't even think of good words to pray.  But I do know that knowledge of the presence of God is what I long for when I am overwhelmed.  So I hope for an awareness of God tonight for myself and for all who mourn, for whatever reason.