Amanda called me Sunday with a seriousness I've rarely heard in her voice. "Mike, there was a shooting at the Unitarian Church today." I met the news with a coldness. My church? There was a shooting at my little hometown church? I almost shrugged it off-- I didn't want to think about such a tragedy. It wasn't till the next day that it started really started sinking in. Now I'm kind of obsessing with reading about it - various news reports and blogs. Here is a good article at CNN.com that goes into the shooter's hate filled motives.
My heart goes out to members of the church. I haven't been to Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in a couple of years- since I started grad school actually. But I still think of it as home. My church is a place where everyone is welcome. They go beyond "tolerance" and embrace "acceptance". It's a quiet place of meditation and love.
I feel a sense of guilt. I should have been there. I was originally planning on moving to Ohio Monday so I could stay in TN for the weekend and go to church. The move was bumped up to Saturday because of my parent's work schedules (they were helping me move).
It angers me to know this happened because of hate-- a man who blamed liberals and gays for his own misfortune lashed out like an animal in a place that's full of nothing but love.
But together we can heal. Friends, please send your love, positve energy, and prayers to the congretation of the Tennessee Valley UU Church. The UUA has set up a blog for us to express our thoughts here.
My heart goes out to members of the church. I haven't been to Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in a couple of years- since I started grad school actually. But I still think of it as home. My church is a place where everyone is welcome. They go beyond "tolerance" and embrace "acceptance". It's a quiet place of meditation and love.
I feel a sense of guilt. I should have been there. I was originally planning on moving to Ohio Monday so I could stay in TN for the weekend and go to church. The move was bumped up to Saturday because of my parent's work schedules (they were helping me move).
It angers me to know this happened because of hate-- a man who blamed liberals and gays for his own misfortune lashed out like an animal in a place that's full of nothing but love.
But together we can heal. Friends, please send your love, positve energy, and prayers to the congretation of the Tennessee Valley UU Church. The UUA has set up a blog for us to express our thoughts here.
