Believe it or not, Jesus’ words weren’t about weakness or surrender. They meant the exact opposite. In a simple but profound way, Jesus told His listeners to stand firm in the face of oppression and not back down. By refusing to retaliate and instead offering the other cheek, they denied the oppressor the reaction they wanted.

Monday April 21, 2024 broke our hearts. Words cannot capture the waves of sadness, confusion, anger and other feelings we are wading through. The horrific tragedy that took place at Wiley Elementary School on that day shook us all and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.