Reason to Be Concerned

Earlier today a self-proclaimed racist murdered a guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Less than two weeks ago a doctor was murdered by an anti-abortion extremist. There have been other murders recently that fit the same profile.
I have no political agenda to put forth and I will leave the commentary and factual reporting to the numerous news services. I would observe that most of the news sources I pay attention to are suggesting we ought to be concerned about the recent rise in racist and extremist violence in this country. We can all speculate why this may be the case, I have my suspicions and you have yours.
I am going to work even harder at three "celebrations" I have offered in sermons over the years. I am going to celebrate:

• Diversity...not Division.
• Opportunities...not Opposition.
• Advantages...not Adversaries.

My attention to these "celebrations" will not remove the reason we ought to be concerned right now, but it sure can't hurt!