Sign In Forgot Password

oh no, not again!

07/07/2022 09:11:33 AM

Jul7

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers

“Oh no, not again!” was my initial response to the mass shooting in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago. Why should it surprise me that there was another mass shooting, this on July 4? There have been 314 mass shootings in the United States this year, which is 314 too many, and mathematically approximating two per day. How many times can the scab continue to be ripped off, the wound never to heal?

As I lay awake that evening, I turned to God as I regularly do for comfort, even being brazen enough to seek answers.

Me: God, are You there?

God: I knew that I’d hear from you Jeffrey.

Me: How did You know?

God: Because I’m God.

Me: God, I have far too many questions that have become a run-on sentence. I’ll start with my usual: Why?

God: I gave humanity freedom of choice, without preconditions. Freedom of choice tragically includes bad choices.

Me: God, I know that You did not tell the shooter to do this. Couldn’t you have made the gun misfire and blow up in his hands?

God: That’s not how I work.

Me: I know. I’m just frustrated by the continuous daily toll, the unnecessary deaths, the families permanently scarred, communities traumatized. What do I do?

God: I’ve given humanity intellect, if only they would use it wisely. They can do incredibly sublime things, such as paint beautiful works, compose magnificent compositions, write great novels, and achieve great things in so many fields. They can also gain notoriety through their deeds. That is what choice results in.

Me: I know that. We’ve talked about that before. I just feel so powerless, wondering what will it take to stop the mass shootings.

God: I feel the same way. There is much of humanity that I am so proud of, yet also deeply disappointed in.

Me: How do I make the pain go away?

God: I’m here Jeffrey, whenever you need me.

Me: I know that, and it does help. My big question is: Where do you go?

The alarm went off and startled me. I did not get an answer to my question, but I do know that God is there, and for now, that will have to suffice. May the deceased be wrapped up in God’s protecting love, and may all who mourn and suffer feel the warmth of God’s healing embrace.

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784