I wrote a blog post about my yoga journey this weekend. But the internet has been down and I wasn’t able to post it. Now that the internet is up, talking about Yoga feels empty in light of what happened Sunday in Las Vagas.
Do you know what rehab looks like after a gunshot wound?
I do. All too well.
Sadly, I’ve provided occupational therapy to many people after gun shots. I’ve worked with several people who were shot in the head, shot in the back, shot in the neck, regardless of where the shot was, it’s never been easy.
One of my most memorable was a 13 year old boy who was shot in the neck while at a friends house. He was not the target of the shooting, but paralyzed from the neck down due to where the bullet hit him. I still remember him vividly. I came to love that kid.
After Vagas, I cant help but think about the 500 plus people who have a long rehab road ahead of them. I think about their therapists, nurses and doctors who will be working tirelessly to fight on their behalf. And I cant help but think about the 59 other people who didn’t survive.
All for what?
For the sake of these people, and all the victims of mass shootings prior, its time we as a nation under go some rehab of our own.
I don’t know exactly what our rehab should look like in full. But I have a few ideas of where to start:
First
Before we all start disagreeing on what may lead us in the direction of a solution (ie gun control, changes to legislation, ect). Can we start by agreeing that whatever we have (or don’t have) in place right now is not working?
In the past 10 years we’ve witnessed the 4 most deadly shootings in US history. With the other “worst shooting in US History” (Orlando), happening only 16 months ago.
How many “worst shootings in US History” will we witness? And scarier yet, how many will my son, who is 5 months old as of yesterday, witness?
Second
Can we please STOP putting the names of these mass attackers in the media?
64 year old male is enough information. We don’t need his name. We don’t need his life story. I don’t have the research behind this, but I’m convinced this only attracts more crazy people to shoot more innocent people.
What we need is the names of the victims. We need their life stories. THEY are the ones who should be remembered.
Lastly
But certainly not least, we need to get to the root of the problem. While I don’t think changes to gun control should be dismissed, I do think its fair to say that this problem is bigger than that.
The problem begins with VERY broken people.
As a nation a much bigger focus and awareness on mental health is necessary. We need more mental health professionals. We need to acknowledge the need for them. They need to be employed in all public schools and large corporations.
And here’s a crazy idea – how about some insurance coverage for services like counseling?!
As an individual love is the only answer I know. In a way I hate that, because in light of horrible tragedies it feels inadequate.
But maybe its not.
Maybe that feeling of inadequacy, is the space God uses to show up. Maybe its the classroom, where he teaches us.
So lets start by trying to be a little more loving. Can you extend a little extra grace to someone? Or make eye contact and give a smile? What about sending someone a kind text? Giving a hug? Holding a hand? Lets look for the cracks where love can fill in.
Again, these ideas aren’t the solution
But at least a starting place toward rehab for our nation. Much like these 500 plus patients, our rehab will be long, slow and gritty. It won’t be easy. We will have to fight to get better. But I believe we can improve.
I promise to share my yoga journey and baby Ray updates another week. But for today, I’ll leave you with 1 John 4:12:
“No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another God lives in us and His love his made complete in us.”