Our Savior Lutheran Church
  • Home
  • I'm New
  • Worship
    • In-Person
    • Watch Live Online
    • Watch On Demand
  • Connect
    • Kids >
      • Sunday Kids Connect
      • VBS
    • Youth >
      • Middle School
      • High School
      • Confirmation
    • Adults >
      • Life Groups
      • Bible Studies
      • Men
      • Women
      • Young at Heart 50+
    • Find Care >
      • Prayer
      • Marriage
      • Aging Well
      • Mental Wellness
      • Coaching
      • Justice
    • Get Baptized
    • Become a Member
    • Faith Milestones
    • Parenting
  • Serve
    • In Our Church
    • In Our Community
    • In Our World
  • Preschool
  • Resources
    • Events
    • Calendar
    • Podcasts
    • Right Now Media
    • Parenting
    • Church Center App
    • Pastor Tim's Blog
    • Church Business
    • Employment
    • Links & Files
  • Give

Pastor Tim's Blog

connecting leadership, community, wellness, and faith
​

conectando el liderazgo, la comunidad, el bienestar y la fe​

3 Options for Responding to Tragedy... 1 is Best.

5/27/2022

 
Picture
Lenyia dies in our own backyard.

Further away, 21 people died in a senseless act of violence in Uvalde, Texas.

Even more removed (and yet feeling so close), the conflict in Ukraine continues.

In our own families and homes - tragedy is all around us.
How do you make sense of so many horrific, unthinkable, and evil things that are beyond your control?

We have three options:
  • Deny it
  • Blame someone for it
  • Grieve it

Let’s be honest, denial doesn’t work. As painful as it is to acknowledge reality, we cannot wish it away. Reality is always waiting to greet us.

Playing the blame game feels good at the moment. Too often, tragedy is complex and abstract. In the short term, directing blame toward someone or something directs our thoughts and feelings toward something concrete. However, like denial, assigning blame doesn’t change reality. In fact, in the long run, blame often makes matters worse.

In the end, by denying reality or playing the blame game, we become our own gods - ultimate arbitrators of what happened, why it happened, and what should happen next.

For me, a pastor, leader, and shepherd, trauma and tragedy have become common experiences. Most of the time we assume that God is absent in these moments. However, I have learned that it’s in these sacred and difficult spaces, God is most present.

As a result, I have learned to keep three words in mind when tragedy strikes: Let’s grieve well. And here’s why…

We are human - made in God’s image, with all of our emotions, intellect, and person-hood. That’s how God made us. We hurt because God hurts. Our hearts break because God’s heart breaks.

Let’s not forget that Jesus is human, too. He hurts. His heart breaks.

Jesus shows us how to grieve well. With his heart in pieces, He doesn’t choose to deny reality. He doesn’t choose to shift blame. Jesus cries at death. He mourns the loss of friends. He laments how the world seems unfair (because it is). He accepts the reality of a crass, cold, and chaotic world that is spinning deeper into darkness. And then, Jesus owns his grieving as he hangs onto every one of God’s promises through temptations, uncertainty, and even death itself.

So friends - as we continue to pray for Lenyia’s family and friends… as we move from shock to sadness over the Uvalde tragedy… as we continue to see events in Central Europe unfold… and so much more in our own lives… remember these three words: let’s grieve well.

After all, we do believe in resurrection which follows tragedy. And resurrection always leads us back to Jesus.


    Meet Pastor Tim

    Tim Bayer has served as Our Savior's Lead Pastor since September 2019. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Concordia University - Irvine, a National Leadership Facilitator and Resource, and a Community Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Tim studied sociology, psychology, and theology prior to earning his M.Div at Concordia Seminary - St. Louis. He has also is a candidate for an Ed.D (ABD) in Transformational Leadership. He is married to Beth and they have three young children. Together, they enjoy exploring the outdoors, experiencing culture, and pizza and movie nights.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

OUR CHURCH

Service Times & Location
Mission & Values
Staff
Resources
Contact Us

GET INVOLVED

Connect
Serve
Grow
Give

OUR SCHOOLS

OSLC Preschool
Concordia Christian Academy (K-12)
© 2023  |  Our Savior Lutheran Church  |  253.531.2112
4519 112th St E, Tacoma, WA 98446
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-3:00
Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:30am
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Well Water Design

Privacy Policy

  • Home
  • I'm New
  • Worship
    • In-Person
    • Watch Live Online
    • Watch On Demand
  • Connect
    • Kids >
      • Sunday Kids Connect
      • VBS
    • Youth >
      • Middle School
      • High School
      • Confirmation
    • Adults >
      • Life Groups
      • Bible Studies
      • Men
      • Women
      • Young at Heart 50+
    • Find Care >
      • Prayer
      • Marriage
      • Aging Well
      • Mental Wellness
      • Coaching
      • Justice
    • Get Baptized
    • Become a Member
    • Faith Milestones
    • Parenting
  • Serve
    • In Our Church
    • In Our Community
    • In Our World
  • Preschool
  • Resources
    • Events
    • Calendar
    • Podcasts
    • Right Now Media
    • Parenting
    • Church Center App
    • Pastor Tim's Blog
    • Church Business
    • Employment
    • Links & Files
  • Give