When you pray, move your feet. It’s an old African proverb.
It means: for the love of God, DO SOMETHING.
Politicians, Elected Officials, Leaders of our communities and our nation:
Do Something about this crippling gun violence.
Do Something to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
Do Something to check the backgrounds of owners.
Do Something to monitor weapons sales.
Do Something to limit these deadly assault rifles.
Do Something about the tyrannical lobby of the NRA.
Do Something to protect us.
We’re tired of hearing you say you will pray for the victims and their families. We’re tired of your pious platitudes. We’ve heard them over and over and over again.
America is filled with praying people, good people who care about their neighbors. Devout people who believe in the value of life. Compassionate people who will once again comfort the broken hearted and offer salve to their wounded bodies and souls. Americans will weep with those who weep and bury our dead with dignity.
So how about this: How ‘bout we regular people do the praying for the victims and their families and you politicians get off your duffs and DO SOMETHING.
Do Something non-partisan for a change: dismantle this national political intransigence.
Do Something productive for a change: offer real solutions that will make a difference in our real lives.
Do Something courageous for a change: stand against the moneyed manipulators that are destroying our society.
Do Something ethical for a change: stand with integrity on behalf of the citizens you are supposedly representing.
We didn’t elect you to pray.
But if you really feel like you need to pray, then pray for yourselves that you will find the courage and integrity to actually serve and protect the people of this good nation.
Here is a graphic that shows our 1,516 mass shootings in 1,735 days January 2013 – October 1, 2017 (on the average, every 9 out of 10 days in America)
Charlotte Vaughan Coyle lives in Paris TX and blogs about intersections of faith, culture and politics on her website and Intersections Facebook page. 
She serves as national president for Coffee Party USA and contributes regularly to the Join the Coffee Party Movement Facebook page.
Charlotte is an ordained minister within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and also blogs about Scripture from a progressive Christian approach in her Living in The Story Musings.
It is always such a pleasure to find a fellow Northeast Texas woman of kind and just spirit. It can be a lonely place at times, but then the door swings open and someone joyful walks in. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Pastor Coyle! Greetings from Winnsboro.
So true.
You said it best…. Couldn’t agree more. Except to add, get out and vote for those candidates who will do more than offer prayers and condolences. Maybe if every one did, things would change for future generations.