Madison OIS in my Neighborhood

Tony Robinson, 19 years old

I'm sick about it.

I lay in bed last night scrolling through the scant news stories appearing on my Facebook feed that my neighborhood friends were posting. Shots were fired on the 1100 block of Williamson. I live on the 1100 block of Jenifer, a block away.

Then more news started appearing. A 19 year old black man shot five times in the chest by a Madison Police officer. Then a protest began demanding answers.

This morning, it is all over my feed. The sickening hashtag that has been created? That makes this all very real and way too close to home?

#fergusontomadison

Ass of you and me

I wasn't sure how it became September and now it is half way through September. I don't know where I picked up on the idea that summers were slower around church?? It's a lie.

So here's where I'm at. I'm frustrated with everyone. It seems it is just far to easy to NOT assume the best of people. I misread reservation dates and missed a reservation at a restaurant for a group I lead. I don't hear about this until a week later and it makes me sound like I am the biggest jack ass on the planet. Do they honestly believe I was sitting at home, laughing manically going, "Ha! This will show that restaurant. I bet they're holding that table open for me right now. SUCKERS!!"

No. Stop it.

Suicide Is Not A Cause for Public Fear

It's been a shitty week. For a myriad of reasons, I'm sure. General depression. Bruce's sentencing. Change of the weather. My lovely housemate moving and the ensuing depression of my cats. Work is always difficult.

There are good bits sprinkled in of course. Coming to church on Sunday was a highlight. I love my people so much. And I've been working on a new counted cross stitch of the Lord's Prayer. Been chilling on my couch watching movies or listening to Barbara Brown Taylor's "A Walk in the Darkness" (which is fantastic as she reads it for the audio version which is like a mini sermon every chapter).

But on Tuesday, something happened that pissed me off. UW Police sent out a warning that there was a woman who was suicidal and possibly armed. They evacuated 300+ people from the vicinity. They hunted (I'm aware of the verb I'm using) down the woman who had fled into a grove of trees. As the police were talking to her, she shot herself. Jean Gibson died yesterday. She was known to my homeless friends though not to me personally.

News: "Gibson was found by police and shot herself while police tried to communicate with her.   Gibson was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries. UW Police say she died Wednesday from the injury and the case is still under investigation." (link to full story here)