When shots broke out at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, we watched in horror as yet another attacker took the lives of so many innocent people. After the shooting, America fell deeply in mourning as the names and faces of those lost began showing up in news reports. Innocent, beautiful faces.
Leaving 49 men and women of the LGBT community killed and 53 more injured, this act of pure hate was sure to be something we could never come back from. People began losing hope in humanity and losing hope in justice, and some losing hope in God. But through all the heartbreak and loss, we have to keep our eyes on what our God created us to be: loving and faithful. In Mark 12:30 and 31, Jesus tells us that there is no commandment greater than loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And only second to that, we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. With so much hate against different people groups, it's hard to see people loving people who are different from them. A group of celebrities went against modern day discrimination and hate and instead created something positive and extraordinary.
A large group of musicians such as Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez and Jason Derulo are just 3 of an amazing 24 people who came together to create a song in tribute to those effected in the Orlando shooting. The result is something that will bring tears to your eyes and help you see what our hands are meant to be used for.
These celebrities and musicians came together to create something to make an impact on us and tell us how we should respond. Not with hate or violence, but with love. The lyrics are so clear and so meaningful. We were given hands, and what we do with them is our decision. Will you hurt or heal? Will you give back or will you steal? Will you break the world, or will you change it?
Hands.
**All funds raised from the song will go to benefit Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, GLAAD, and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. You can buy the song here.
Those featured in this song are as follows: Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, Troye Sivan, Selena Gomez, Kacey Musgraves, Mary J. Blige, Jason Derulo, Imagine Dragons, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Lambert, Alex Newell, Tyler Glenn, P!nk, MNEK, RuPaul, Prince Royce, Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Juanes, Ty Herndon, Halsey, Jussie Smollett, Mary Lambert, and Nate Ruess.
