This has to stop. Violence is never the answer. One of our basic commands and guides for living in community is “Thou shall not murder.” Instead,

We shall talk.
We shall be respectful as we listen to each other.
We shall love even our “enemies.”
We shall create communities of peace and justice where all can thrive and live life to its fullest.
We shall lay down our weapons of war and we shall embrace each other in love, because God is love.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Charlie Kirk, and the people who were present during the horrific shootings in Utah and Colorado today. May God hold them in comfort. 

And may we be part of changing our world so that we don’t have to face fear of violence and death.

Because there is a better way. Because this has to stop.