The Sikh massacre ~ choices determine the consequences.

Unlike the killings last month in Aurora, Colorado, and the attempted assassination last year of Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona, the FBI is investigating a gunman’s rampage that killed six people at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee as a domestic terrorism incident.

Under the USA Patriot Act, domestic terrorism occurs when a person intends “to intimidate or coerce a civilian population” or “affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping.” The incident at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, two days ago ended when Wade Michael Page, a 40-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was shot dead by police. He appeared to target turbaned men as he moved through the building, a member of the temple, Kanwardeep Singh Kaleka, told CNN.

Now, in the aftermath, the media is struggling for someone or something to put the real blame on. Was it the motherless adolescence years that cause Wade Michael Page to commit such a horrendous act? Or was it his recent breakup with his live-in girlfriend or the loss of his job? The problem with these floundering questions is that they sadly overlook one important fact ~ that is, somewhere along the line he made a choice. And, unfortunately, choices have consequences.

So, if I were an active pastor today or an evangelist, I would take this opportunity to thunder from the pulpit that God gives us an opportunity each and every day in each step of the way to choose.

We can either choose the path to destruction or the path of righteousness.

Now, changing the subject slightly. It is obvious that Wade Michael Page thought enough to kill these innocent Sikhs; but my question is, who among us has thought enough to reach out to this community or witness (past or present) to these almost 360,000 individuals who have chosen to live in our land ~ and now, theirs ~ so that they can enjoy the freedom to practice their religion and attempt to live the American dream?

Do I agree with their take on God? Absolutely not! But that does not take away from the fact that many have fought and died in our wars to secure their freedom and ours.

May God erase any misguided hatred in our hearts against the Sikhs or Muslims or any other group with whom we may disagree, and may He fill our hearts with an overwhelming love for the spiritual welfare of each of them. After all, that is the heart of God.