No matter what any terrorist has ever said, terrorism does not see religion, ethnicity, culture, values, or crime. Terrorism fires blindly at the human race and destroys lives out of pure malice, and nothing more. With this in mind, I implore you, Pray for Paris.
As of this moment, the death toll still rises and some of the people responsible are still at large. This is not a news report; this is a call to turn on your TV, pick up your phone or computer, and tune in to the worldwide devastation. Do not be deceived in telling yourself it does not pertain to you because you are an ocean away. This affects all of us. Today we weep, mourn, and bleed along with the French and we acknowledge that no man, no organization, and no force has the right to shake us to our core, even in the midst of this tragedy.
We must not be shaken. We must stand strong and support our beloved brothers and sisters, regardless of the miles, years, and experiences between us. We who are not directly affected by this act are now the shoulder to lean on for all who are. Today we acknowledge that the only way we can stand is to stand united.
In recent times, the world has beat to the rhythm of comfort and pleasure. If any action, thought, or word offends someone, it is frowned upon and forbidden. But today the difference has become all too clear between being offended and being broken. Words and thoughts cause people to bend, but not to break. Contrary to how a tweet or headline makes you feel, you keep pressing on. But when a man with a trigger uses it to end lives, we cannot continue in our blind offense to hurtful words and thus ignore powerful weapons. Now is not the time for words of defense. Now is the time for action. Most of all, now is the time for prayer.
Many people turn bitter in the midst of tragedy. The general tendency is to have questions, and who better to direct them to than God? But when there is no immediate response, anger ensues. Make no mistake: anger, among many other things, leads men to pull the trigger to end lives. Today we aim to restore lives that have been shattered. We cannot spare a moment to ask God "why?" or "how?" or "who?" In situations such as this we need only ask for help.
In the midst of the rubble of the fall of mankind, we have only two directions to turn: towards God, or away from him. Regardless of who you are or which way you have gone to this point, I plead with you once more: turn to God. In your hour of need and in the world's hour of need, we can turn to other people if we want to. But people tend to break things. We are currently seeking restoration, and we WILL find it if we lift our eyes beyond the breaking news and to the Heavens. Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, drop it and Pray for Paris.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." --2 Chronicles 7:14
