Today is a big day for millions of school children. Our own granddaughter had her first day of kindergarten. We saw lovely pictures of her standing proudly in her dress that she picked out. Another of her looking back to her mom, as she was entering the bus for her first ride. Another of her sitting in her seat. Her head barely above the window, staring straight ahead. She looked confident, excited.  So innocent and sweet. The day she’d waited for had finally arrived. The big time!

I felt what every parent and grandparent was probably experiencing today. A mix of excitement, along with a bitter sweet feeling of realizing she’s growing up. Another step in letting go.

There was fear that I kept trying to ignore. A fear that never entered anyone’s mind on the first day of my kindergarten back in 1957. Will she be safe? What will happen?

A reader of this blog sent me an email shortly after the recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and school here in Minneapolis. He wanted me to write a post that might help him in his despair and frustration. My first thought was – I have no words. Nothing to say. I’d have to wait until maybe… never.

The night of the shooting I attended a scheduled Town Hall, led by our representatives in the Minnesota Legislature. It was hosted by the southern Twin Cities Islamic Center, two miles from our apartment. The focus was on cuts being made to Medicaid and SNAP.

The place was packed. The early agenda changed to talk of the shooting at Annunciation. I found what I needed. A large room filled with love. I was reminded of how vital it is to go where there is love when anger, despair, and frustration is deeply felt. Find a place where there is love and soak it all in. Offer your own love energy, and then leave to be love in the world around you.

I’ve been pondering the why of school or mass shootings for some time now. While the solutions are many and complex, I believe the answers are fundamentally spiritual in nature. As all answers seem to be in the end.

There is within the soul an innate knowing that it is inherently and naturally part of everything. The soul, coming out of the One Source of all that is, requires a fundamental sense of connection with the Whole. Connection and belonging are oxygen for the soul. Former gang members will tell you the number one reason they joined was to belong.

When that sense of connection or Oneness is severed, the pain is visceral and screams, “You didn’t accept me as I am! You didn’t let me in!”

So what can we do to solve this problem of school and mass shootings? The debate goes on, but I offer two thoughts.

1. Restore your own sense of connection. Seek out where the love is and go there. Soak it in. Replenish yourself.

2. Keep an eye out for that person who seems disconnected. Offer a kind word. A smile. Let them know you see them. There is a video on YouTube called, “I Was Almost A School Shooter.” Aaron Stark speaks of his plans one day to shoot up either a food court or a school. Didn’t matter. “Maximum damage” was all he cared about. Something proportional to his pain. Someone that morning payed attention to him. Spent a bit of time with him. He didn’t carry through with his plan.

It’s of course not always that simple.  But I do believe, when we get down to the real core of what’s going on, the issue is a spiritual one. A matter of knowing connection and belonging. Because after all,

We are Love.

Support our teachers! They are heroes!

Pastor Tim Tengblad

timtengblad@comcast.net