Going Anyway

Do Not Be Afraid

Sunday, May 22

This morning, as we were getting ready for church, I got a text message from my cousin, Kari. It was link to a news article. It didn't take me long to figure out there had been a shooting in our church's parking lot in the wee hours of the morning. I learned that one person had died. Two others had been injured.

I knew we had to go to church this morning because one, I was teaching our last class, and two, we couldn't let the devil win here. Something horrible happened in the parking lot at a church, but not going to church out of fear is exactly what Satan wants. "Do not be afraid" is the most frequent man command God gave in the Bible. (I may be stressed out by moving, but I am not afraid.)

"Ava, I need to tell you something," I said right away when we got into the truck. It's a really short drive, so I needed to get to the point.

"What?" I could see her look at me from my peripheral vision.

"This morning around 3:30, there was a shooting in our parking lot at church. One person did die. The other two were injured. I don't know if we know them."

"Do you think we know them? Are we still going to church? Is the shooter still out there?"

I focused on the road. Hearing her fear almost made it seem like Satan was winning. I shouldn't even write that because Satan will never win. "I think everyone who was involved is either in jail or in the hospital. Or dead. And yes, we are still going to church."

"What if the shooter runs away from the hospital?"

"Trust me, that won't happen."

"Do you think we know them?"

"I don't know. I hope not. It's a small town though."

"Why do think it happened?"

"I don't know. Drugs, maybe."

"Like my mom," she mumbled.

"Yeah."

"At least we're leaving in eleven days."

I sighed, remembering why moving was a good idea. "Now you know why we should move."

"Oh, I already knew, but that doesn't make it any easier."

"I know."

We didn't say anything more until we arrived to the church a few minutes later. There were crime scene vehicles. When we walked in, people were talking and laughing, but I could tell there was a heaviness among people.

A lot of people hadn't heard the news, and people wanted to know why there were cops everywhere. I told them. They were surprised to see this happen at a church. Yeah, we don't live in a great town, but this stuff isn't supposed to happen in a church.

Anyway, today was our last Sunday school class of the school year.

It was hard giving these kids a hugs goodbye. Ava was crying by the end because she goes to school with most of these kids, and she's going to miss them here, too.

When TJ gave me a hug goodbye, I wished he took more baths, but I also had this guilty pit in my stomach. I am tearing Ava out of his life as he's finally making a friend. He was holding back tears as he said goodbye to us.

"I'm going to miss you so much, Mr. Steven," TJ said to me, trying to hold it together.

"I'm going to miss you." I meant this because I have known him for several years.

Saying goodbye to everyone today was tough.

Later today we found out we don't know any of the victims personally.