I’m not sure when I started this practice, but whenever there’s a mass shooting, I look for the names of the victims and I read through them. If there’s information on each individual’s life, I read that too. When I started this little practice, I had no idea how often it would become a part of my life or that I would read so many names and learn about so many people who were usually engaging in some completely normal aspect of life when a terrible violence was visited upon them.

This morning, I read through the names of those who were shot and killed in this week’s mass shooting in Maine. Eighteen people. Eighteen. Shot and killed by a man with clear mental health struggles who somehow still had access to weapons that could produce such massive slaughter in such a short period of time. Eighteen people shot and killed just a forty-five minute drive from Old South. Plus, at least thirteen others injured. While Maine has experienced other mass shootings, this week’s incident was, by far, the largest and the first not to be a domestic violence situation (horrible in their own way, but different from the random nature of the violence that took place this week).

It’s not that I thought such a horrific event would never take place in Maine, although Maine was recently declared the safest state in the country. But, I had hoped that maybe we would somehow escape what seems to have become a component of American life. Maine is a decidedly gun-friendly state. I remember when we first moved here and a neighbor tried to help me appreciate the significance of hunting. Eventually, I came to sort of understand, although I always bristle in November when I must don myself in blaze orange whenever I leave the house. I’ve also bristled when I’ve encountered people with “open carry” permits who, in fact, openly carry their guns on their person. I usually simply move away from them as quickly as possible. For the most part, though, I feel very safe in Maine. There’s a sense of safety and security in the small population of people. We may not all know each other, but there’s likely only one or two degrees of separation between any two random people in this state.

When the news came of the shooting in Lewiston, it was alarming and shocking. It also brought a sense of numbness, especially around the feeling that, once again, a lot of words would be spoken, but nothing meaningful will happen to prevent such clearly preventable tragedies.

Out of respect for those who perished— Billy Brackett, Maxx Hathaway, Bill Young, Aaron Young, Stephen Vozella, Arthur Strout, Joshua Seal, Ronald Morin, Michael Deslauriers, Joe Walker, Lucy Violette, Bob Violette, Peyton Brewer-Ross, Tricia Asselin, Bryan MacFarlane, Thomas Conrad, Jason Walker and Keith Macneir— as well as those who were injured, and for all of their friends and loved ones, I offer this prayer from our Thursday prayer service at Old South:

We gather with weary spirits.  As if there’s not already too much in the world that weighs on our hearts and minds, a mass shooting has taken place in our own backyard.  Gather us in, holy God, and offer us the balm of love and hope that only You can offer.  Help us to lean upon you in this time of great need, in this time of terrible tragedy. We lift up in prayer: the families and friends of those who were killed; those who were injured; for family and friends awaiting news; for law enforcement and first responders, for doctors and nurses and medical staff; for the perpetrator of this monstrous act and for his family; for those who feel the pull to commit such an atrocity upon their neighbors; for community leaders, mental health professionals, those who have reached out to help, to listen, to offer a caring hand or ear; for young people who are frightened about the dangerous and violent world in which they are growing up; for lawmakers and policy makers who lift up their thoughts and prayers, but do nothing else, who fail to do anything meaningful to stem the violence and the access to weapons with the power to kill so many so quickly; for each and every one who desires a better way, who works diligently for more sustainably peaceful communities. Be with us, Holy God, and strengthen us. Walk with us on the journey, that we may be be about your holy work, to bring healing and hope. God in your infinite mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

And, help us, O God, to be mindful of the long, long list of the names of your beloved children, that we find the will and the way to keep that list from growing and growing and growing and growing. There are way too many names already.