Forgiveness rules the day

You could understand if friends, family and followers of Pastor Tim Remington had blood in their eyes following the shooting of the defenseless minister in his church parking lot Sunday afternoon. But that’s not the case at all. There’s love in their hearts and forgiveness on their lips, even as authorities’ nationwide search for the man who pulled the trigger led them last night to Washington, D.C.

Let’s all pause and count our blessings.

Remington, who was hit six times, is lying in pain at Kootenai Health, yet his prognosis has been given as somewhere between darned good and downright miraculous. The miracle’s borders might have expanded beyond Pastor Tim, too.

Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White said video surveillance indicates the suspected shooter, 30-year-old Kyle Andrew Odom of Coeur d’Alene, was armed while he was attending church services.

“I think our community as a whole got very, very lucky on Sunday,” White said Monday. “I think it could have been much worse.”

And yet, Remington wasn’t the only victim of the shooting. While Odom has been identified as the only suspect and is innocent until proven guilty, his family, which has fully cooperated with authorities, already is suffering tremendous loss.

“Our family is devastated by Sunday’s events,” they wrote in a statement to media. “We are praying for Pastor Tim, his family and his continued recovery. We are also praying for Kyle’s safe return and to get the help he needs. We love you Kyle!”

It’s our hope that Odom’s capture will bring this painful episode to an end, and that the long road of healing for all those in pain will continue to be paved with love and forgiveness.