Flowers for a Tragedy

I went to a balloon launching this morning and when I came back home, I heard about the mass shooting in Dayton Ohio.  So, in less than 24 hours, we have 29 dead in two shootings, one in El Paso: people in a Wal-Mart committing the crime of back to school shopping for their children and one in Dayton, Ohio: people enjoying themselves on a Saturday night.

In many Eastern cultures, white is the color of mourning. In many cultures it is also the color of purity.

I share some white flowers with you today to honor the 29 (as of the time I blog this) dead.

Rose of Sharon

Same bush from another angle.

Queen Anne's Lace

A Japanese Anemone from my garden.  They bloom in the fall.

Impatiens, looking like miniature roses.

The statistics are staggering.

That we even keep these statistics, like some kind of sporting event, saddens me, even as I link to one list.

Hundreds of active shooter situations this year- I believe I've heard the number 249 as of yesterday.

Thoughts, flowers, and prayers aren't going to help. We know that. I think our Creator is saying "My children, you caused this problem.  It's up to you to solve it.  I'm waiting."
The Onion, a satirical newspaper, publishes this article every once in a while.  How sickening that they'll need to publish it yet again.  But, in a way, it says it all.

I wish I could have gotten on one of those balloons this morning and just drifted away.