The Shooting in Tucson

I am currently sitting in my motor home which is sitting in the parking lot of the Safeway where the shooting occurred last Saturday.  There are no police  here but the yellow tape is still up and there are several TV crews still here.  The Safeway is closed.

Last night I went to the memorial for those killed or wounded at the shooting, me and 26,000 other people.  Many of us spent 5 or more hours sitting in the hot sun waiting just to get in. 

There is pain in the heart as I write this.  Today was the funeral for most of those killed.

Last night I could not sleep.  I was only thinking of what was missing, what DIDN'T Obama say that could have been said that very well might have totally changed the picture.

NOBODY talked about forgiveness, particularly forgiveness of Jared Lee Loughner, the shooter.  Many people are still holding anger, confusion, animosity and fear in their hearts when they think of Jared.  This is pain that we are causing ourselves, Jared is not causing it.  Forgiveness is the way to let go of that habitual self abusive behavior. 

And forgiveness is only the first step in the real healing that comes with love...

I wish I had been here last Saturday.  I wish I had been wounded too, just so I could demonstrate forgiveness.   I wish I had been on that podium last night. If I was up there last night I would have challenged Tucson and America to forgive Jared.  I would have pointed out that Jared was looking for someone to show him how to love.  For if Jared had learned about love he never would have had any interest in killing anyone.

We failed Jared.  I failed Jared.  I will do better.