It was not even six weeks ago, I posted in this blog an entry I titled, Stolen Years.  Click on the link to read it (again). I wrote it on August 26 when two young journalists were killed live and on-air that morning in Roanoke, VA.  I’m right there again.  Still.   In the post I call attention to a website that calculates “stolen years” of people who have died by gun   I’m reminded of that graph again today in the midst of the horror of the killings in Roseburg, Oregon.   Look at it for yourself this morning.   Trust me, it’s an effective visual.  Gets me every time.

Then think about these latest victims of our country’s inability and unwillingness to do anything about guns stealing life from us.

Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18

Treven Taylor Anspach, 20

Sarena Dawn Moore, 44

Lawrence Levine, 67

Jason Dale Johnson, 33

Lucas Eibel, 18

Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59

Quinn Glen Cooper, 18

Lucero Alcaraz, 19

By my own rough estimate, our country lost at least 350 years of life in an hour last Thursday. What their families lost is incalculable.   Mothers and fathers — proud of their sons and daughters who recently graduated high school.  A mother whose son was making her proud after getting clean from drugs and being her first child to go to college.   Quadruplets who now number only 3.

Pray for them.  Of course, pray.  Just don’t stop there this time.  Do something.  If you’re unsure where to start, I’m here to help you take that first step.  If you’re already an activist, don’t stop now.

Pastor.  Parent.  Activist.