In the aftermath of mass shooting like the one that happened in Arizona last Saturday, it is hard to move forward. In some ways we are stuck in the horror of what happened. We are also stuck wanting to blame someone for what happened. Of course the person responsible is the shooter. But, we have to wonder how the shooter got to a place where he thought killing as many people as possible was a solution to whatever problem it was he was trying to solve. Mental illness was probably a factor. Was he being treated? Was he even diagnosed? Hateful words about elected officials on billboards, the internet, TV and in conversation may have added to his decision-making process. Or not. We have no idea. Maybe we can blame the gun laws that allowed him easy access to the weapon. We want someone or something to blame so we can go on with our lives, praying for the injured and the dead, but doing little else. And really changing nothing.

There are cries for more civil discourse. There are cries for better diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. There are cries for better regulations for weapons. But the change that needs to come is the change each of us can make. We are all a part of the problem when we forget that the good of a community might well come before the good of the individual. We are to blame when we use the language of hate that turns people into objects rather than the daughters and sons and mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles and grandparents they really are.  In a moment of national tragedy we have a chance to become different. Let us commit ourselves to making a change toward more a more compassionate future for all people. We are committed to that at CEM. How about you?