Anyone that knows anything about a tree, understands that its health lies in the roots. It’s so easy to look at the tree and try and figure out what problem is based on what we can see, but it’s essential that we try and take a look at the root’s instead and perhaps the type of soil it was grown in.
The tragedy of the latest school shooting has been horrific. I think every time something like this happens, people get shaken to the core and then try to blame it on things that might not be the real problem. We can not keep trying to put a band aid over a wound, because ultimately a band aid will not heal a deep wound.
Here are some things I have learned about Salvador Ramos in reading about his life from various articles:
-His parents weren’t together
-He was bullied in school by the same age kids as he shot
-His mother and him had a broken relationship
-His father and him had a broken relationship and his father said specifically that “his father didn’t love him”, also that he hadn’t seen his father lately
-Fear with COVID being around father’s mother because she has cancer
-His sister also had a broken relationship with parents and did not live with them anymore
-He cut himself
-His mom said that her son “wasn’t a violent person”, even though she was “uneasy about his rage”
Beyond all these wounds, he didn’t know Jesus and that was the exact root of the issue. If he did, he wouldn’t have carried the bitterness from being bullied, forgiven his parents if he was hurt by them, would not hurt himself because he would have known the value of life, and most importantly, if he knew the love of His heavenly Father, he would never have even thought about the tragedy that happened on the surface, or, the school shooting.
The world is fighting between the surface problems like guns. We even have to be careful with using mental health because the world throws out worldly solutions to mental health like medication, eating healthy or exercise that won’t fix the root root. Mental health is listening to the right voice and knowing God. I am a HUGE fan of renewing the mind (or mental health), but apart from Christ, it is impossible. Again, we can’t keep trying to heal a wound with a band-aid. It all boils down to the scripture in John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. But in order to truly understand this verse, we need to have a relationship with God because if we don’t, we are just a puppet on strings to the voice that wants to rob us of the abundant life that God has for us.
At the end of the day, salvation is the most important thing:
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24)
If you are a believer, I hope this challenges you to go deeper in sharing Christ with people, because ultimately, He is the answer to having healthy roots. If you are not a believer and this doesn’t sit right because you don’t agree, I challenge you to ask God to show Himself to you, because not only does He want to heal any deep wounds, (and not a just a temporary band-aid fix) but lead you to a satisfying life full of joy, peace and love.
