Close to Home – Again

It has happened again, right here in Tarrant County, Texas, a place called by some the buckle of the Bible belt; home of one of the largest and most conservative theological seminaries in the world as well as other religious institutions that would rank as very conservative in comparison to most.  Last weekend, a lone gunman entered a place of worship and did his physical and mental damage.  This time it was Congregation Beth Israel.  Two years ago it was the West Freeway Church of Christ.  In 1999 it was my own church, Wedgwood Baptist.  Fortunately and prayerfully, no lives were taken with this latest situation.  Add to these places of worship, shootings and hostage situations at schools and places of business – all in Tarrant County – and one begins to wonder how safe we are, here on the buckle of the Bible belt, in conservative and religious Tarrant County.  In my book on the Wednesday night Wedgwood shooting, “Night of Tragedy Dawning of Light,” I entitled a chapter, “Don’t Wait until Thursday.” Based on comments made by those present of what they wished they had done or said prior to the shooting, I implored readers to not wait until the next day, until it was too late, to act or speak what needed to be shared.  To the West Freeway Sunday shooting, I would say, don’t wait until Monday, and for the Saturday Beth Israel hostage situation, I would say, don’t wait until Sunday.  In the uncertainty of a place like Tarrant County, Texas, I would say to all, don’t wait until tomorrow.  Let us join across religious, denominational, political and social lines and pray with the Psalmist, that we “may walk before God in the light of the living” (Psalm 56:13).