"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."

Romans 12:14 (NRSV)

As I sat on my patio, in Phoenix the other night, there was a surreal silence settled on my part of this tiny planet. I felt as if I were sitting in a void. Normally I can see Aircraft getting into line for decent into Sky Harbor International Airport. Instead I saw military jets from nearby Luke Air Force Base patrolling our skies. I felt so distant from the devastation that had just occurred in our country ... yet, it might as well have happened next door to me. I could not find the words to pray. I simply stared at the sky and listened to the silence around me. Not even the sound of a cricket could be heard. I thought to myself that if I dropped a needle the whole city might hear it. I knew, at that moment, that our world had drastically changed and there would be no going back.

The thoughts that flowed through my mind were not of economic downfall or restructuring of buildings. No, my thought was of the people who died and how their religion did not matter. These people would not be alive to enjoy the quiet night with me, even from a distance. They would not see their families anymore. My thoughts wondered to what they may have seen. Was it the face of God? Was it the greatest homecoming they ever knew? Were each and everyone of them heaven bound? I believe that they were. But, then my thoughts went to their families and friends who were left behind to pick up the pieces and move on after as much as can be discovered is known. I finally found the words to pray.

Over the past few days so much speculation and finger pointing has gone on. Then it happened. One preacher blamed part of it on GLBT persons! I was aghast at such a thought. I was stunned that anyone would even utter such a thing. Are we the scapegoats for this atrocity, too? I guess so, in certain circles. They can't even let us alone in our own grief. They can't let us mourn and grieve without accusing us of being "part of the problem." This is what legalistic religion does all of us who are outcasts and marginalized within society. Even in the face of a tragedy of such great proportion we get "some" of the blame. When will this stop?

Legalism and literalism has brought on more wars and produced more evil in the world than anything I can think of. It has put lives in jeopardy, even unto death. It has caused countless debates and endless speeches by overbearing gluttonous preachers who feel more at ease telling people what to believe than looking to Christ for the answers to the mysteries that surround us. They point fingers in judgment and, once again, we are made out to look like the scapegoats.

Tears for those who have died or been injured are drying now within me. The new tears are from the knowledge that there are still people out there who want to tear me down because of who God made me to be. They just don't get it. They just don't see the "Jesus" in this. They only see the black volume of 66 books in their hand with their own translations and the man made rules that THEY "say" we must live by.

Tonight, I will sit on my patio again. Has our world changed? I wonder. Will I be able to pray? I will try. But this night I will not only pray for those who have been lost and those who are hurting, I will pray for wisdom and pray for those who are still cruel to us even in the face of such tragedy.