Friday, December 14, 2012

“In the arms of the angel ...”

Today, in Newton, Connecticut, 27 people, including 20 children, were killed when a gunman clad in black military gear opened fire inside his mother's kindergarten class at an elementary school. It is a tragedy beyond comprehension, even for a nation that allows the killing of roughly four thousand unborn children every single day. Most people would consider such a comparison to be completely arbitrary. But what happened in Connecticut today is what the culture of death looks like, if only when it stares you in the face, and you cannot look away or paint it over with euphemisms like "choice."

You are left, then, with only ONE choice, to stare back at it in horror, and ask yourself, “How long, O Lord?”

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Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh a beautiful release
memory seeps from my veins
let me be empty
oh and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight life
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe
in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

(H/T to Latoya Ford.)
 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps it is time for Americans to consider gun control like we have here in Australia. We were a frontier country ,we had outlaws-called bushrangers- but also a police force however those who have guns are either farmers or sporting shooters ,with a rigorous assessment of each application for a gun licence
God bless the Newton Community especially at this time

David L Alexander said...

"Perhaps it is time for Americans to consider gun control ..."

The 2nd Amendment to our Constitution guarantees that "the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This is why restriction at the state and local level are a tough sell to many Americans. And in most cases (Australia notwithstanding), and as we say here in the States, "if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."

As far as this writer is concerned, the most effective form of gun control is a steady hand.