[to respond]

Today our youth group and I went to a different place for Sunday service. And like places of worship around the U.S., the first thing mentioned was Connecticut. Two days after the elementary school massacre it's still hard to believe.

But like many other leaders, the minister's first few statements were about it. "We must respond," he said. The next question: how?

Some say stricter gun and gun-control laws.

Some say more safety drills and higher security at schools.

Others say better mental-health awareness.

People have posted all kinds of things all over the Web. Blogs just like this trying to respond. News articles with varied viewpoints. Facebook and Twitter posts on people's opinions and sadness. All attempts to offer comfort, solutions and sympathies.

And we can analyze and orchestrate all kinds of responses to this type of tragedy, but truth is, what happened in Connecticut isn't going to be solved by us. Because Connecticut wasn't the result of a broken or faulty system. Connecticut was evidence of a cancer of the soul. A sickening disease when you see humanity's capabilities. A deep sadness no matter who you are or what you believe. And no law, security system or opinion will have the power to heal that.

I told you we went to a new place of worship today. Their response? Listen. Give a child our full attention. Engage in "activities that will strengthen our connection to neighbors". Improve options for those with mental issues, and focus on gun control.

Good things? Yes. Helpful things? Of course. But where is the hope in that? Do we simply trust in ourselves, as humans, for improving our world when we, as humans, have also destroyed it? Not to be cynical, but let's be realistic. You don't patch a gashing wound with a Band-Aid.

Instead I come back to the power of a once crucified but living Lord. The power that raised Christ from the dead. The power that is steadily restoring the world, even when we can't see it clearly on dark days like this. The only power that needs no courts to uphold it, "likes" on Facebook to support it or votes in Congress to enact it. The ultimate power that is capable of soul transformation.

Our response to Connecticut? Easter. Comfort, hope and a will to believe in the best of humanity because we have Easter.

God, I don't see your victory in this, but I see your victory on the cross. And because of Jesus' resurrection, I know I have every reason to trust that all Your other promises to us will come true as well. So I put my hope in that. Just like Paul, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection" in my life and in this world (Philippians 3:10). I fully believe it's the only thing that will put us all back together again.