I have been in Las Vegas since Saturday, September 30th, the first time back since I moved to Spokane, Washington. On Monday morning, like everyone else in this beautiful valley, I awakened to the terrible news of the horrific shooting at the Country Music Festival. I wrote the following reflections on Monday and Tuesday and shared them at two venues on Wednesday. These thoughts have helped me to try and make sense of what happened from the focus of our faith. Hopefully, they will help you too

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Monday morning found me: in shock; in disbelief – “this can’t be real!” – angry at the senselessness of it; and grieving for the victims and their families.

“Why”, I asked myself, “did this happen?”

I felt relief that I was safe and my friends who might have attended the concert were too. I prayed for those who were killed or injured and for their families.

Source: nyt.com

I said prayers of gratitude for the first responders who saved countless lives by their quick thinking and amazing bravery: the police, the Mandalay Bay security guard who pinpointed where the shooting was coming from, the firefighters, the ambulance drivers, and ordinary men and women in vans and pickups who, heroically, took the wounded to hospitals.

The doctors and nurses who worked tirelessly and for hours tending to the injured came to mind – Dr. Kevin Menes, saw about 150 patients at Sunrise Hospital –  as well as those who gave blood even though for some it meant standing in line for hours.

The grief counselors who came out in force and volunteered their time.

The GoFundMe account, started by the Clark County Commission Chairman, had raised $8.4 million dollars by Wednesday morning.

Source: ndt.ci

Going up South Las Vegas Blvd, from the south, on the way to the airport, I saw billboard after billboard, each with the words “Las Vegas” but with a different third word, like: “Strong”, “Resilient” and “Unity.”

Source: thewire.com

Travelling north towards the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign I saw families heading in the direction of the 58 white crosses that an Illinois man had installed at the base of the sign commemorating those who had been killed.

And the Vigils. All over the Vegas Valley. In churches, on street corners, and in other venues. A good friend and I attended the Vigil at Guardian Angel Cathedral, on Monday evening, where members of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith communities came together in a show of unity and deep-felt prayer.

“Can I pray for the shooter?” I asked myself. I am not there yet. Will I ever be?

Source: aol.com

And now I find myself reflecting on how life is gain and loss, grace and pain. Okay, I can deal with that. Some things are predictable: I will gradually and eventually lose my good health; I will at some time leave this world.

I am okay with predictability, it’s the unpredictable events that throw me: 9/11, Columbine, Mandalay Bay on Sunday evening. I receive some comfort in hearing of the heroism of those who responded to the tragedy selflessly and courageously.

“But, where is God in all of this?!” I ask myself. A passage from a favorite book that my mother read, daily, when she suffered from cancer – “Abandonment to Divine Providence”- came to mind: “We are troubled and disturbed yet nevertheless in our depths we have some unseen anchor that keeps us clinging to God.”

Source: stpeters.com

That “unseen anchor” is our faith. It is the kind of faith that says: “I believe you are a God who loves us, help my unbelief.” It’s the kind of faith the people of Las Vegas will need in the days of healing ahead.

On Wednesday morning, the day of my two presentations, a friend of mine here sent me an email suggesting I take a look at 1 Peter 1:7. This is an edited rendition of it: In the knowledge of God’s great mercy we rejoice even if now, for a little while, we have to suffer various trials so that the genuineness of our faith – being more precious than gold – though perishable, is tested by fire.

This is our test. The people of the Vegas Valley are being tested “in the furnace of adversity” (Isaiah 48:10).

But Las Vegans are resilient people. They have been tested before, though not in this horrific way. Healing will happen in time. Their faith will deepen. They will come out of this trial much stronger. They will get through this ordeal together, with God’s help.

Surce: news.wjct.org

The overwhelming support in the Vegas Valley for those immediately affected by the tragedy has given many a whole new way of looking at Las Vegas. The valley does have close to 2 million residents: families raising their children just like any other city.

No one should view the city just from the standpoint of the Strip any longer. It is a city of loving, caring, and compassionate people as well.

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With gratitude to John Laub, who has lived in Las Vegas most of his life, for his contribution to this article.