Emanuel AME Church in Charleston

I have, for all this time, withheld my response to the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.  I have been asked on numerous occasions what I thought about it.  Honestly, I can tell you that I think it was a truly horrific action carried out by one who has a very troubled spirit.   

BUT...

When I heard the response of the church body toward the shooter, I was floored.  That congregation proved that God truly IS alive in this world, because they openly declared their forgiveness of that young man. I have contended that forgiveness is a conscious choice that we must make because God's love fills us more than the anger of the acts committed against us.  This pastor and this church have proven that to be true.  They didn't call for riots!  They didn't call for revenge!  They didn't call for anger! They didn't They claimed the peace of God's love!  They have become the living example of Jesus' Prayer to "Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us."   

Let me be brutally and painfully honest in confessing that I don't know if I could have done that.  But then I read the words of Interim Pastor Norvel Goff, Sr. when he declared of the church: "This is God's territory!"

I visited with the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy recently for two reasons; first, to remind them that they are not alone. People are praying for them. And second, to try to care for the caregivers.  During that visit, one of the Chaplains make a very profound statement: "The reaction of the Citizens of Charleston and the members of Emanuel AME Church have reminded me that the Holy City is still Holy."

When tragedy strikes in our lives, can we respond because God's love and forgiveness fills us so much that anger and hatred have no home in our hearts?  That is my prayer! 

My gratitude to Pastor Norvel Goff, Sr. for reminding me that "This is GOD'S territory!"