What is going on in Israel is utterly heinous. The tactics are simply to cause irrepressible anguish, pain and fear. It reminds me of the early part of the Book of Matthew, “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”  The children were slaughtered simply because of their age.

To slaughter children and babies in the terrible fashion reported by the news is a horror of biblical proportions. War is a terrible thing, but such a war, who can make sense of it? And how could it end after such provocation?

My heart hurts for mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. It hurts for my friends connected to this region and connected to the conflict of faiths. I can only imagine the pain and frustration.

As a political leader, I would ask for the division overseas not to further entrench ours. Tragedy that brings us together as a county or country need not begin on our own soil.

May leaders among us end any stirring up of conflict that would limit our ability to be of help to ourselves and others.

And if it is in you to pray, let us pray.