We have experienced so much sadness in the past two weeks. First there was the bicycling tragedy in Kalamazoo. Tony Nelson, an Open Doors volunteer and supporter, a fine and dedicated person, was one of those killed.
Then came the murders in Orlando, when a man with an assault weapon killed 49 people at a gay club.
The mission of Open Doors Kalamazoo is to embrace all who need housing and personal support for reclaiming their lives from crisis. This includes members of the LGBT community, the Hispanic community, and the Muslim community. It includes people returning to Kalamazoo following a period of incarceration. It includes people who are reclaiming their lives from drugs and alcohol. It includes parents who have lost their children, and children who have lost their parents. It includes veterans who have been traumatized by war and spouses who have been traumatized in a personal relationship.
Hate does not offer us a way through this grief. We must recommit to loving each other, caring for each other, building the beloved community. That’s the way through the grief.
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