Thoughts and prayers.

A somber day yesterday, with news of yet another shooting. This time young children at a Catholic School as they prayed.

It’s a situation beyond comprehension, and my heart goes out to everyone involved, from the families to the parishioners to the first responders and hospital staff.

I don’t want to get into the psychology or politics or debates about firearms, etc. But I do have a couple of thoughts.

Almost immediately, people started offering their “thoughts and prayers” and asked others to do the same. Simultaneously, others said we should “keep our thoughts and prayers” because they do no good.

I get it.

Publicly offering thoughts and prayers following something like this, especially when these incidents happen again and again, can sound hollow and be interpreted as avoidance of addressing the underlying issues. A substitute for action.

Conversely, when people offer their thoughts and prayers, it is generally meant as a sign of solidarity and comfort.

Where do we all go when things are out of our control and we are seemingly helpless? I’m reminded of the quip that there are no atheists in foxholes. When all we have is prayer, almost everyone prays…even if they are a skeptic or an atheist.

Asking God to provide peace is common for people of faith, especially in the midst of life’s unexpected twists and turns and tragedies.

So what should we do?

I think the answer is recognizing both realities. Thoughts and prayers are important to those thinking and praying, and as a person of faith, I believe prayers matter to those we are praying for. I also believe we shouldn’t stop there.

Perhaps we should ask God to move us to action. How can we work for peace, for safety, for change, for awareness, for healing, for solutions, for unity?

Prayers matter. But so do actions. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

I suspect our unbelieving friends would be more receptive to our thoughts and prayers if we paired our prayers with something tangible. And if we would listen rather than defend.

I remember the days after 9/11 and how our Country came together as one to mourn and pray and cry and share our feelings of disbelief. It somehow made the tragedy bearable when we all embraced each other and tried to sort it out. And almost everyone offered their help, through service or money or whatever resources they had.

These days it seems we’d rather run to our respective “side” and blame the other guys.

Now is a great time to think of, and pray for, those families in Minneapolis.

It’s also a wonderful time to end your prayer by asking God how you might be His hands and feet.