I caught wind of several who have experienced loss recently. My heart aches for them—and for the Kirk family—just as it did for the Hortman family, and as it should for any family that loses a father, mother, spouse, or loved one. Every life lost is a tragedy, and every grieving family deserves our compassion and prayers.
What adds to the sorrow, though, is seeing how quickly tragedy becomes fuel for agendas. When the first response to loss is finger-pointing—“The right did/didn’t do this” or “The left did/didn’t do that”—we lose sight of our shared humanity.
I want to challenge all of us: unplug for a moment. Step away from the echo chambers that dominate our screens and shape our reactions before we’ve even had time to feel. It’s so easy to sit behind a keyboard, firing off hurtful responses or jumping to judgment. But what if we chose differently?
What if, instead, we slowed down? What if we became vessels for change—not through shouting, but through listening? Not by surrounding ourselves with those who think and act like us, but by intentionally seeking out those who don’t?
This isn’t a soapbox message—I’m a work in progress, too. That’s why I’m trying to unplug more and spend intentional time with Jesus. He is the perfect example: sinless, yet He chose to walk with, speak to, and dine with the worst of the worst—and with those who held opposing values. He met people with truth, grace, and love—and when He spoke, hearts were changed.
Let this sink in:
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." James 3:9-10
Let’s use our words to heal, not divide. Let’s live in a way that reflects the love of the One we follow. There is power in presence, in silence, in compassion—and in choosing love over rhetoric.
So please—hug your loved ones a little longer, hold them a little closer, and don’t take a single moment for granted.
More than ever, we find ourselves longing for true peace, justice, and healing that only He can bring.
We anxiously need and await Your return, Father.
Come back, Lord Jesus.
