DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Why Are You Shooting Up Santa Monica?
© NaimaLett.com/blog
© photo source
I go to Santa Monica beach often to pray.
It’s 17 minutes from my house, no traffic. There’s something about watching the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean that reminds me that “God Is”. And if the Great “I AM” can keep oceans, tides and skies in balance on a daily basis, He can certainly handle whatever drama arises in my life. That’s just how I think.
Friday’s Shootings
So, Friday’s 13-minute shooting spree that ended at Santa Monica College, just 1.8 miles from the pier where I pray, was just unbelievable!
The 23-year old gunman, fitted in full bullet-proof tactical gear, with multiple semi-automatic firearms and 1300 rounds of ammunition, basically executed his father and brother, set the house on fire, then proceeded to shoot into cars, a bus, at pedestrians and finally on campus. He left 5 dead and many more wounded before policemen took him out in the library.
Why are you shooting in Santa Monica?
That’s what I wanted to scream! It’s Beach Town, U.S.A. Laid back. Easy. Peaceful. 80 degrees and a breeze. Folks go to work, then chill on the water.
What is so wrong that you feel the need to take several guns and shoot innocent people – a father and son, a mother of twins, a passerby. What is wrong with you?
Why are folks shooting anywhere?
Can we just stop this ridiculous violence? As I’m writing this post, more shootings have taken place in Santa Monica and all over Los Angeles, all over California, our U.S.A. and world. I am so frustrated right about now.
Raising Assassins?
I recently met a hopeful high school student at a Hollywood event. (I love helping folks find their purpose and follow their dreams while deepening their faith). I asked what she wanted to do in life and how I could help her get there.
“I want to be an assassin,” she confessed.
“Excuse me?” I stammered.
“I want to be an assassin. I’m excellent at the video games.”
She was serious. She had given much thought to this. How did we get here, Fam? Are we raising and/or allowing our kids to dream of being assassins and taking people’s lives because they’re skilled at killing people on video games?
“Life is so precious. When you’ve almost lost it, as we have, you realize how very precious it is and how we don’t really want to take anybody else’s. Do you know any military veterans? Can I introduce you to a few veterans who’ve actually been in situations where they’ve been faced with taking somebody else’s life? It’s horrific. It’s nothing like a video game.”
We were eventually able to re-direct the conversation towards stunt work and action movies; but what an eye-opening discussion.
Prayer
Lord, please forgive us for not valuing life. Please forgive us for not valuing one another’s lives. Please forgive us for sinning against You and one another and continuing to gun one another down in the streets. God help us. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He said “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) Please help us embrace our Messiah and value life as much as He does and stop shooting innocent people in Santa Monica and all over our country and world.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Naima
Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian
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I have long felt that video games provide an avenue of expertise in violence and a desensitizing to the value of human life.
Remember the story of the man picking up starfish on the seashore and throwing them back in the water? When told it was hopeless because he couldn’t save them all, he said, “But it matters to the one.” Keep on keeping on in the La La.
Thanks so much, Darlis.
I like that story of the starfish. I hadn’t heard it before, but I can certainly identify. It matters to the one!
Best to you as well!