We are also a nation that is losing its soul to a culture of violence and revenge. Acts of brutality and killing are commonplace in television programs our children watch from a very early age. Many, if not most, video games and multi-player online games like World of Warcraft reward violent thinking and behavior – even if it is virtual. Our news media thrives on feeding us an unrelenting diet of wars, fighting, mayhem and viciousness under the thinly disguised terms of news and information; carnage sells airtime and advertising space like nothing else.

The answer lies in our willingness to change our hearts, minds and souls and move out of a mindset of fear, violence and revenge and into a culture of caring, love, tolerance, forgiveness and grace.  We also have to change our attitudes and institutions where public mental health care is concerned.  There are a great many Adam Lanzas in the world who desperately need mental health care, but we have to be willing as communities, states and as a nation to provide that care. There is a compelling article online entitled, “I am Adam Lanza’s Mother” that I hope you will take time to read.

You can find it at www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/i-am-adam-lanzas-mother-mental-illness-conversation_n_2311009.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false.

We have to change how we do things, and we have to change now.

– The Reverend Dr. Michael Doty, Rector The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross