Oklahoma

There are many dead in Oklahoma, including dozens of children, after that massive tornado this afternoon. This is a terrible, horrific tragedy. I can’t comprehend the suffering of these people. Dozens of parents kissed their children goodbye this morning, sent them to school, and a few hours later they were buried under mounds of rubble. It’s agonizing to think about. This town was literally torn apart by one of the most powerful tornadoes in modern history. I don’t think any of us have ever seen a place ripped off the face of the earth like that. This is more chaos and misery in a country that has been plagued by too much of it recently.

I pray for the people whose lives have been shattered by this storm. And I also pray for us, that we don’t allow ourselves to be numbed by the seemingly constant barrage of death and destruction in the news. We really are blessed to have this life, as fragile and painful as it may be. But it can be taken from us at any moment, and eventually it will be, one way or another. That doesn’t mean we should live in fear, or become disconnected and jaded — it means we should try to fill our days with as much love and joy as possible. I think you can build it up inside you, like a reservoir, and feed on it when your days turn dark.

I pray that God will comfort the people in Oklahoma tonight. They need all our love and support now.