“If we don’t talk about it, it’s not real.”
Hearing those words spoken at a prayer vigil on Thursday night in my small community of Chetwynd, B.C., made me realize what has been out of place since the tragedy in nearby Tumbler Ridge.
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In 2004, I moved to Chetwynd, a municipality of about 2,300 people, and joined the Chetwynd Shared Ministry, a four-denomination church — United, Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian — that welcomes all. Over the past 21-plus years, my involvement with the church has evolved significantly. I have gone from reading scripture during worship and serving on council to becoming a lay leader who leads services regularly. I am also a member of the community ministerial, which is a group of clergy and lay leaders who meet monthly to discuss how we can work together for the community. We hold an annual community church service, we record Advent and Easter messages for our local ChetTV station and we are currently exploring ways to support people in the community struggling with addiction.
As with any congregation, some members require physical, emotional and spiritual support; but rarely does an entire congregation, let alone the entire community, require emotional and spiritual support at the same time.
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, roughly 90 kilometres away in the small community of Tumbler Ridge, our sense of innocence, our feeling of being safe, was shattered and nobody wanted to talk about it.
In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to hear people say, “These lockdown drills are useless; we live in Chetwynd.” I wonder how many children in Tumbler Ridge felt this same way.
On Tuesday evening, I prayed. The words came slowly and seemed somewhat insignificant; yet Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” I prayed for the families, trying to understand why they were going through such immense pain. I prayed for the community to stand together in support, for the first responders and for guidance. I asked to be shown how I could help, what I could do. Then, an overwhelming urge came over me to text the ministerial and suggest we hold a prayer vigil. We ask, God answers.
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The response to the vigil exceeded the ministerial’s expectations. It was cold and windy, yet the people kept coming. This was what our community needed — an opportunity to come together to pray, listen to scripture, light candles, hug each other and cry together. About 150 people attended: parents, grandparents, children, clergy, lay leaders, first responders — all coming together to finally acknowledge what happened. Through tears, people expressed their fears, with hugs, they offered comfort and through prayer and scripture, we guided them to look to God.
It is important to note that blame was not present. All, including the shooter, were seen as victims. In a small community, we are not immune to the effects of social media that can cause significant, widespread damage by fostering addiction and enabling mental health issues like anxiety, depression and social isolation. But perhaps also because we live in a small community, people treat each other as individuals, knowing we must rely on each other.
It is not difficult to imagine that we all might know someone tied directly or indirectly to this tragedy. Rival sports teams that foster friendships, family members who moved for career opportunities and even friends who moved for a slightly slower pace of life. We visit each other’s communities to support music festivals, trade shows and enjoy the different aspects that nature has to offer. We meet in the middle to go camping or river boating. We know you and we stand with you.
Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
A member of our ministerial read this piece of scripture and explained that God is actively present with, rather than distant from, people experiencing intense emotional pain, grief or despair. It offers comfort that God understands, cares for and provides salvation to those whose spirits are overwhelmed.
Yes, our spirits are overwhelmed but the healing has started.
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