SPEECHLESS

"I never thought I'd see the day..." ~Dr. David Jeremiah, from his book and sermon series by the same title

On May 18th, I posed "What Next." Reflecting on the past few weeks, I can honestly say I could never imagine the events that have taken place across our country.

Many times I've just been speechless! Sad over wrongful, senseless deaths. Anger over those who caused the deaths. Disgust over folks instigating violence in the midst of peaceful demonstrations that are meant to bring attention to needed changes for the betterment of our society. Many acts of violence, rioting, and chaos stirred up by mercenaries and others who care nothing about the "cause," but are in it only for money, or whatever their reason. The lootings, shootings and destruction of small and large businesses, and buildings - private and public - are also senseless. And let's not forget the vandalism to statues and monuments - the reminders of our nation's past, some good and some bad. Either way, they remind us of where "we" once were, where "we" have come, and even as a motivation for where "we" need to go as a country. Lisa Wingate's historical novel, The Book of Lost Friends, says, "It's part of our historical reality." I highly recommend this book which is set in the post-Civil War era.

I'll always remember a quote from a high school history class: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (George Santayana) If these memorials are destroyed, how will the past be remembered? And what example is now being demonstrated for young children?