Although I try to avoid controversial, political subjects in my weekly KellyGram, the tragic Parkland shooting, and the divide that has arisen in its wake, compel me to share some thoughts about our response to the horrific school shootings that have plagued our nation. Since 2013, the United States has seen 290 school shootings, 17 of which occurred in 2018 alone. The lives stolen in the Parkland massacre and these outrageous statistics have left my brain churning since last Thursday. My thoughts finally began to come together on Sunday while listening to my rector, Reverend Mitchell Smith, at Saint Martin’s-in-the-Fields. His message was so powerful and thought-provoking, that I have since re-listened to the sermon. If you have time, I would encourage you all to do the same; you can access the sermon here.

Mitch’s bottom line was that, whether we have an R, a D, or an I in front of our names, we need, as Christians, to become leaders in finding a solution to the frightening problem of school shootings through calm and rational debate. Whether it is through mental health services, or through gun control, or both, we must take action to ensure that our children are safe and that a predominant theme resonating through this country is one of peace, love, and caring for our fellow man..

I think we can all agree that our nation has strayed from these values and that we must initiate change in order to end the senseless violence on our country’s children and our fellow man. Please pray for our leaders to rise above partisanship, ideology, and political affiliations so that we may restore tranquility and security to the forefront of American society.