Thank you, Sharon, for a reasoned response. Some on the left are already quoting Palin's reload comment, and blaming her. Some on the right are quoting President Obama's comment about if they bring a knife to the fight, we'll bring a gun. All this is so far from the heartbreak so many families are feeling. You're right. Prayer is the best initial response, and reason and compassion to follow.

Thank you ~ your words are ones of hope and grace and blessing

Thank you for such a calming response in the midst of such chaos.

Blessings,
jblue - PTS c/o '06

Wonderfully put, Dr. Watkins. Thank you; will fwd about briskly.

Grace & Peace, Jeff

I was reminded of Pope John Paul II telling of his own shooting ordeal and the "knowledge" that Mary guided the bullet with her finger. This may be a distorted paraphrase on my part but it gave me an insight to the nature of evil intent and how God works to His own purpose. It is truly a journey of faith punctuated with facts we are without language to communicate fully.

Dr. Watkins, thank you for these words in the face of such an unspeakable tragedy.

Thank you Sharon, for your leadership in this time, your sensitivity to the issues and your wisdom for the ages.
Does our President still call on you?

I pray our God's blessing and comfort in your life.

Lucian

May this terrible tragedy be seen for exactly what it is . . the single actions of a disturbed individual . . NOT a time for political 'posturing'.
Let us continue to keep all victims & families in prayer. As written by Rev. Dr. Watkins, "God's Heart Was the First to Break"

Thank you, Sharon, for your unifying and healing words of compassion and reason.

Your response was Godly, timly and much needed for our nation and for our faith family as we search for answers. Directing us once again to the Throne of God, we will certainly, and as always, find the peace, hope and healing that we all seek.

We joined you at 9h AM Mountain Time. Gracias.

Thank you for such beautiful thoughts Dr. Watkins. I will certainly share these thoughts with others as we seek to sort out this terrible event. May healing truly begin and continue as we join together in prayer.

I too am saddened by the senselessness of this action.

However, this is NOT about political discourse, who is right and who is wrong, Tea Party, Fascists, or anything other than this is an individual who is suffering from a psychosis, most likely schizophrenia, and is not being treated.

After the healing process begins, our focus should not be on the political or societal “reason” that this happened and it should be on the poor mental health care that we have in the US. My son is a paranoid schizophrenic and while he is not violent, I have seen his ranting and writings when he is off of his medications. It is totally incomprehensible.

My prayer for recovery of those affected both directly and indirectly is offered as we need healing. But my prayer continues that we as a nation recognize that there are mentally ill persons among us and they need treatment. In some cases we need to force treatment although this is not allowed by law. Most likely this is a mentally ill individual has the same illness as the assassin of John Lennon and the attempted assassin of President Reagan.

There is no easy answer but this will happen again. This type of tragedy happens regularly in cities and towns across the US, it is just happens not as high of a profile as this tragedy.

Thanks for your calming words

Well said. We can all hold hands and feel the heartbeat of grace.

Thank you Sharon for this powerful statement of compassionate faith, I appreciate your leadership in these dark days.

Sometimes we rely on prayer as the last resort; only after doing what loving hands can do...and so I thank you for reminding us of the power of prayer as our first response as members of the Body of Christ...

Thank you! I will join you in prayer!

Thank You! Our Congregation New Birth Christian Church will join you in prayer.

Amen and thank you Sharon for your insight and wisdom. If only the media, and those right and left could hear and see.

Good and helpful words. Thank you so much, Sharon.

Thank you, Dr. Watkins, for speaking to this issue and your good words to help us.

THANK GOD FOR THE CHANCE FOR HER RECOVERY TO CONTINUE HER WITNESS.

Thank you for these words of hope and healing in a time of bewilderment, fear, and pain. Hopefully the faith community will be able to offer stability and hope in this time of suffering.

In this world of chaos and hopelessness, this is a time when all Christians and others need to stand together and pray for the people. This young man has lost his way...we as a praying and caring people should pray that we all find God's grace and mercy in this time of tragedy. Let's pray for the victims, for the families of the victims, and for the young man who did such a horrible deed and for his family ...only in God's grace can we find healing and forgiveness...I pray God's grace for us all.

Thank you, Sharon, for continuing to bring thoughtful and spiritual insight!! It's so important not to blame one political side or the other. That won't solve the problem. This is a national problem for which we all must now take some responsibility. And we simply can not afford to now make this a political issue too. The divide is already way too wide, with extemes on both sides. One question might be to simply ask "What beam is in my eye, that I need to address? (allowing me to become part of the solution)" (to borrow from Jesus' words).

Thank you Sharon. We are so fortunate to have you as our General Minister and President. I am so weary of the polarization that we feel in our world and in our church. I hear polarizing speech even from well intending and loving Disciples. We do not understand our words sometimes...so senseless is this tragedy. Hearts are broken now is time for healing...now is the time to listen to what we are saying.

I plan to share your message with a number of people
Thanks, Sharon.

Most folks find ourselves as Abraham Lincoln did "on my knees simply because there was no other place to go". When all else fails we seek God rather than seeking Him before all things. Even non-believers grasp this Great Reality in the darkest of times. I am grateful that as Disciples of Christ we come to the Table from all walks of life. It is very sad that heartless opportunists would choose to seize this moment of grief to grind their political axes. "We shall all stand together or die seperately."

Thank you Rev. Dr. Watkins for this reminder.

Thank you, Sharon for your leadership and your calming pastoral guidance following this tragedy. I will send your message on to men of the Southwest.

Nicely worded. My heart goes out to those that have lost love ones and to the families of the survivors. Such a tragic waste of these wonderful lives given by God and taken by hate. May we all focus on better ways to handle our disagreements and look to our Lord for the peace that only he can provide.

Thank you, Sharon may the Holy Spirit enter the minds and hearts of all people and His will be done.

Amen!

Truly the Holy Spirit has given you guidance in this time of trouble. Peace is my prayer for you, our church, nation and all the families involved in this tragedy. Thank you for your words of hope.

Your blog arrived just in time to read as the opening devotional for our staff meeting, at 10:01 am, after the moment of silence. Thank you for sharing your reflections at such a time as this.
Barb

Well spoken.
Yes, of course, we go down on our knees at the overwhelming sadness for the families, friends, constituents, and the country. No one of these lives is worth less than another, this is just a more public forum. Lives were given.
Prayer alone is not sufficient! In Sharon's words, "let us act in keeping with that image [of God] also revealed in us. In God’s image, let us be a movement for wholeness and healing and hope."
What will you/we do about the many challenges we face today - mental illness, gun control, and appropriate use of freedom of speech, just to name a few? Will we move past the social barriers and being "nice" and "sad" to have meaningful conversations, legislation, social engagement with the outcast, community pressure against violence, open hearts to the bullied and bullies so they might change?

Then gather together, fall on your knees, break bread together, ... and act as a "movement for wholeness and healing and hope."

Thank you, Sharon, for your words and prayers on this tragedy. I pray that I will not do with my words what this young man has done with his actions: attack others.
I thank God for being in a spiritual community that seeks to share, to listen, to accept.

Thank you for the thoughtful response to this tragedy. It would seem that our society is in a regressive process in so many ways. I believe God will help us become a more thoughtful and stable society in time.

Thank you, Sharon.
The husband of the vice-principal in Omaha last week, killed by a troubled student, said of his wife: she would have forgiven the student. THAT comment says it all. And, goes a long way toward reconciliation in this community.
Peace, Doug

Thank you for your insight. I would challenge all of the DOC however to evaluate that we are not a movement but Christians, and only through Christ will wholeness, healing and hope be granted. We, individually and as a community are only the vessel.

Sharon,
I write to you in love and peace of the Lord, be with you now and forevermore.

Thank you for your message to the church in this time of great national tragedy. However, I must admonish and rebuke you for politicizing this event. Shame. This is an act of pure evil, not political action in any form or substance, based upon the evidence produced to date. An evil action by a man that will ultimately be judged by God almighty - not you or me. He will receive justice here on this earth by 12 of his peers, and I pray if found guilty of this crime he will receive punishment that will accelerate his judgement day.

BTW: Who is Jim Wallis? What is his role in the Disciples of Christ church? Why do you value his opinion worthy of quoting? I believe this is a time in which God is seeking all mankind, believers and unbelievers alike, to turn to Him and seek His love and guidance beginning with His word, not that of mere mortal man.

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."
1 Timothy 4:1-2

Thank you for your leadership Dr. Watkins. Your words help me to form my own response to this tragedy.

Thank you, Sharon, for your words of compassion and wisdom. Thank you for leading us in prayer. Blessing to you in these days.

As we pray for all those involved in this terrible tragedy, let us also pray that we as individuals come to grips with the mental illness that is pervasive in our world. I pray that God will lead me to do what I can to seek ways to help recognize and treat such illness. Thanks for your continued guidance, Sharon, as we ask God to lead us in love and peace for everyone.

Thank you!

Your words to the church and the world are living sign posts to the pathway of wholeness at this time of national grief and saddness. You serve us well, "Pastor".

The grace of God is extended to us all, and as individuals it is up to us to accept that grace. God is also just, and justice is perceived differently by all individually. May we accept grace and justice as God's gift to us and let Him be the "Holy and Graceful Judge".

Thank you for your wise and comforting words.

Hi Sharon -- thanks for you leadership! Here's a piece that I wrote:
It is time for each of us as the members of our society begin to take responsibility for the part each of us play in helping to build the values by which we promote and sanction the use of violence or even the suggestion of violence. No more excuses -- no more rationalizations -- only good faith acts of caring and concerned citizens of a democracy in deep need of healing!

I am deeply grateful for your words, and particularly for the reminder that each time we rise from the table we are "reconstituted and recommissioned as Body of Christ for the world". So often I celebrate the breadth and the width of the Table and fail to claim how we are sent from that place of sustenance. May we take the mystery of God's presence into this time and place of sorrow and emerge to share a blessing with those who follow.

Thank you Sharon for your tender compassionate approach to this tragedy. Inclusive prayers for all touched by this wanton taking of humane productive life --- including a nine year young girl of "incredible promise" --- all six murdered lives and numerous injured including US Congresswoman Gabriella Giffords, all daughters & sons of a grieving God, of grieving families & personal loved ones of the killed and injured... and including prayers for the troubled Jared Lee Loughner, his family, and prayers for our nation.

Thank you also for your wisdom in not rushing to assign blame for this tragic event. There will be ample opportunity to sort out the dynamics that led Mr. Loughner to his horrific act. In the meantime, as you suggest, we can immediately "*act* -- as Body of Christ and individually members of it" -- to insure that we behave and speak in such a manner, that we help nurture to wellness & wholeness, those who for whatever reason of instability, may not be able to sufficiently distinguish between metaphoric speech and literalistic speech, *and* that in every respect as disciples/Disciples of Christ, we seek to incarnate as individuals and a community --- "a movement for wholeness and healing and hope" that leaves God's creation, a more gentle loving *divine milieu* as a result of our present journey.

Thanks for your gift of ministry and leadership for the CC(Dof) and beyond.

Thank you for helpful leadership in this time of shock and chaos. I'm a parish minister on vacation, far from home, and your words have helped me remember to turn to prayer in all things, at all times. I'll use your words next Sunday and try to open discussion of how each of us and all of us can become agents of healing and hope where ever we are. What a tragidy and great sorrow. Surely, collectively and personally, we must fine ways towards health and peace.

I am disappointed that this blog, written two days after the shooting, still refers to a possiablity of it being a political shooting. I did a simple google search yesterday before church, found a Tucson newspaper, and learned, that the young man was mentally ill. So, rather than addressing what should be the main issue here, MENTAL ILLNESS, vague referances are made to politics. As a church leader, I would think you would verify facts before putting forth commentary that may or may not be factual.

Very disappointed. I think Paul said teachers were to hold to a higher standard. Disappointed, but not surprised.

Thank you Sharon, for being the voice that gets heard. I have to make a comment about the way we "label" events in our media. This is not good or bad; but it is how we communicate. When there was a shooting at Columbine High School and VA Tech ~ it was reported as a "school shooting." When the estranged person opened fire in a church ~ it was reported as a "church shooting." Why America, when a unstable person opens fire in a crowd at a political event is it wrong to claim this is a "political shooting?" Who are we protecting? Do the schools or churches differ in our Country from the politicians or political parties? The tragedy that has taken place is about the killing of innocent people. The label identifies the event and is a call for institutions to be aware of their surroundings. All schools and churches are more aware of their policies and practices. Could it be possible that the political environment should do the same? My prayer is that the answer is "yes!" God's people often miss the lesson when we are in the face of tragedy. May we come together in the days and weeks ahead lead by our hearts, while our minds and tongues take a break. Shalom.

.

Thank you so much for your calming words and carefully balanced response! You do us well, pastor. In my opinion, there is no bill pending in Congress today that justifies the hateful, angry, and aggressively-defensive responses on the part of some reacting to this tragedy. No spiritual person, politically right or politically left or politically neutral is so pure that they do not have to regularly examine the logs in their own eyes before casting aspersions on the motivations of those trying to make sense out of the tragedies in Arizona.

Wise and gentle Sharon as usual your comforting words are so encouraging and show the mark of true leadership--God's love, the power of prayer and the concern for each other. We are not called as Christiams to sit silently where injustice and human suffering exists. Those in the political world such as Rep. Giffords and the others in that tragic event in Tucson that were there to take part in our form of government, a great democracy: to learn more about and speak to the issues of the day. How sad that one person, for what reason we do not understand, found such violence necessary. The senseless act of one person should not diminish the positive purpose of elected officials to speak to and listen to their constituents or the brave and heroic acts of those others who acted in the face of danger to help and to attend to the wounded. My prayer is that as a nation we find a way to come together in a more calm and reasonable fashion in the days and years ahead. God bless you and those you serve.

Dr. Watkins, Thank you for your wonderful insight and and prayer that is needed by all for all the victims and their families. I join you in prayer and I also pray for more comprehensive health care for the mentally ill in this country. They seem to get the sort end of any kind of treatment. I used to work in the mental health field and you were treated until you insurance ran out.

You are a wonderful leader and I am proud to be a Disciple for the past 5 years. As an Elder i will continue to pray for our country and its leaders as well.

Thank you Sharon, for your wise and inspired words. Thank you also for challenging us to work for solutions that do not perpetuate divisiveness and finger-pointing, but instead, urge us to employ the instruments and attitudes of wholeness and healing that God has given us to be a movement for healing in a fragmented world.

One of our core values at DisciplesNet church is to see every other individual not as the human-written label makes them out to be, or as a friend or foe depending on what side of an issue they stand...but simply as that of another child of God, a person created in God's image that we so desperately need to come to know better to be God's instruments in this world.
Our DisciplesNet leadership wholeheartedly stands with you in committing ourselves to find ways to grow and deepen our ability to bring hope and healing of God's love to the fragmented world around each of us.

In peace,
Deb Phelps,
Senior Pastor,
DisciplesNet Church

Thank you Sharon for a powerful statement of compassion, Sometimes all you can do is sit and weep with God. As more information comes available I hope we, as the Body of Christ are able to remember the love he would have for victim and perpetrator.

thanks again

God's heart was the first to break...that really is all we need to understand.
He was there. Thank you for that statement.
Prayer is what American Christians can stand on. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Thanks, Sharon. The rhetoric in this country has become toxic. It's time for people of faith to say, "enough"!

Dr. Watkins,

Praise God for your pastoral words of encouragement to our clergy, laity and members of our Disciple churches around the world! Indeed this reflection is a reminder of how much we need to trust in and rely upon the Lord during these critical times in which we live. May we continue to keep in our thoughts and prayers the victims and the victims' families of this terrible tragedy.

Dear President Sharon Watkins Again you have shown your excellent leadership ability in immediately responding to the tragedy. It is important that our religious leaders immediately respond with wisdom to reduce these appeals to violence, overt and implied, by political leaders. You continue to be in Joan and my prayers.

Sharon. All of these comments, and there are so many to read in hopes of finding answers, result from your message related to the tragedy. It is a continuation of God's gift to you as a fantastic leader serving in his Kingdom. Those in the World who have been blessed to serve under your leadership should find a better understanding of the nightmare as they read your words. God Bless You as you lead us

Thank you for your very centering and prayerful words. God bless you for your leadership for healing and wholeness in this tragic time!

Thank you Dr. Watkins for the words of compassion. Especially the prayers for the young man who acted out of desperation and his family for they are hurting and need wholeness as well. Be well

I, too, join you in prayer for those so devastated by this tragedy. I pray we will not spend our energies on laying blame or trying to avoid blame. Instead let us come together to seek a vision of peace and wholeness.

The time for hate is over! No matter what group we associate with, the actions of this young would be wrong. May God direct us during this time of sadness.

Your comment about God's heart breaking first reminds me of a phone call I received on Sept. 11, 2001. I was working as a church office manager at the time. Shortly after I arrived at work, while I was still in shock and grieving w/the nation, I received a phone call from a local, well-respected attorney. Among his first words to me were, "What kind of a god allows this to happen?" Somewhere from within, without missing a beat, I was able to say, "I think God is crying too!" Comforting words to me and to him. Like I said, I don't know where that came from. Or, maybe I do. (Thank you Sharon.)

On behalf of the Mississippi Christian Missionary Convention (MCMC), we appreciate your sensitivity and compassion. Our God is able......... Amen

It is so hard make sense of such senseless destruction. Thank you, Sharon, for reminding us that we can only control our own motives and voices, and that we are commissioned by God to BE kindness and hope in a troubled world.

I am in agreement with those begging for improvement in MENTAL HEALTH CARE . As a physician and board member of mental health facilities I have witnessed over and over the difficulties in getting funding housing and treatment for young mentally ill individuals. Families and caregivers face barriers. Money, stigmas, ignorance, lack of legal support, and '"individual rights" advocates have built huge walls that prohibit any positive intervention for these unfortunate sick persons.

While I am a seriously praying Christian, this issue needs prayer backed by action. As you, Dr. Sharon, have an international platform and exposure, I would plead with you to consider making an informed and forceful stand for intervention in all ways to advocate for this portion of our society that cannot pray and advocate for themselves.

As the Christ to the world community, we are obligated to this mission least we see Tucson repeated in many ways in many communities, churches, and possibly in our own families again and again..

A challenge for Christ,
Carol Dickhaus,MD
Indianapolis, Indiana

Thanks for the words of calm but I too wonder why Jim Wallis was mentioned in this article. It ruined your general thought process for me. It reminded me that I might be being called to a different denomination.

Tom is back from visiting his father in Texas, and he said "You have to read Sharon's blog." Indeed, and amen.

The image of God in every person is especially poignant, since I just got off the phone with a church friend: two rather disturbed people have recently sought out our church and are a challenge to us. We all have to pray for each other in this ministry, in all churches. And we have to get good Christians warm to the idea that mental health services should be a higher priority than at present.

I'm glad you mentioned Jim Wallis, although he may need to be explained to some people. The current issue of Sojourners (has a Michelangelo-like captive on the cover) went to press before Tucson, but somehow, through the Spirit, has a response to it. There's also a review of the Bonhoeffer biography I translated (and the other one by Metaxas). Bonhoeffer wrote, while visiting Bethel, an institute for people with severe disabilities:

"It is said of Buddha that he was converted by an encounter with a seriously ill person....Their situation of being truly defenseless perhaps gives these people a much clearer insight into certain realities of human existence, the fact that we are indeed basically defenseless, than can be possible for healthy persons....It knocks down some of the barriers with which we usually shut ourselves off from this world."

Love to you from snowbound Massachusetts
Isabel and Tom

Hi Sharon,
Again I read the wonderful words from my pastor. Words that lead us to the understanding that "bad" things happen, but our hope and direction lies with the Lord.
I am so very proud of your leadership.
God bless you, dear friend.
Rod

Think you Dr Sharon for this encouriging words. God bless you !
Emmanuel
CDCC Mbandaka
RDC