“Pray for the trolls too.” Ouch! I just retreated into a tortoise shell and took cover and did not do that. But will–for my own complete healing.
Yes, I should have clarified I was praying for God’s mercy and kindess, not that he could be safe to kill more Americans.
Tread very carefully in volatile times–that’s my 11th twitter commandment 🙂

LA, Yes. You and I are kindred spirits in so many ways!

” If anyone’s hung out a lot with Jesus and his words, there is nothing
astonishing about praying for an individual hunted by hundreds.” Just so. But it is then so easy to forget that many have never hung out with Jesus, or have done but not really taken his words to heart. It does worry me that it i likely that among those who gave you abuse there will be those who call themselves followers of Jesus, yet who fail to understand that his teaching applies *especially* when we feel raw from experiences such as this. And others will simply not have understood what you meant. Pray for the trolls too.

I prayed for him too last night. I prayed that if he did this, that God might find a way into his troubled heart and forgiveness be offered through Jesus’ sacrifice for us. I prayed for the victims of the bombing and the family of that poor dear “kid” of 26 who was shot at MIT that their hearts would not turn black with hatred and they would find comfort and healing in God’s hands.

We must stand taller than those who hate and fear and loathe fellow humans for whatever reason. We must stand taller because Jesus told us that the ultimate command is to love without reservations or qualifications. We must stand taller because otherwise we join their ranks…Satan’s army of haters, fear-mongerers and loathers.

Exactly, Paulla. That’s exactly how I felt.
Was shaken, not grieved by Twitter. These weren’t my friends, weren’t even my followers!
I was also shaken at how I totally didn’t anticipate the reaction!
Thank for your kind words:-)

Absolutely, Lori. Some things we only learn by experience. If I had any inkling of the virulence of the reaction, I would have qualified my tweet. I was praying that God would be with him, would have mercy on him, would guide him as to the best thing to do in a terrible situation. I wasn’t blessing or approving his dreadful murders.
Yes… pearls before swine is so easy on twitter, with only 140 characters–so I often keep complex controversial thoughts to myself or my blog, not twitter. As I said, didn’t realize this simple prayer was controversial!

“but to be hunted, lie bleeding, brother dead, hated by millions… I know that God loves him as much as He loves me. I do know that we should be praying for him.”
Exactly. I guess I am praying for him what I pray for myself several times a day sometimes, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on him, a sinner.”
Thanks Helen!

Thank you so much, Pamela. Yes, like you, I have teenagers–incl. an 18 year old daughter–and that probably gives us more empathy.
Hating just removes us from the light of Jesus, and harms us without helping anyone, but praying for him might introduce the light of Christ into the whole situation. Thank you so much for your kindness!