In one month’s time five officers have been murdered in Washington, my home state.

Would you join me in a moment of silence … not a prayer, nor a recollection, but an actual moment of silence. Five officers have been murdered, and there is nothing we can do to change this horrible reality.

We can weep, we can rage, we can blame, and we can accuse, but nothing will make this terrible reality anything but terrible. There is no silver lining. There is nothing to be gained that will compensate for this tremendous loss.

We are trying, trying to help, trying to understand, trying to move forward with our best efforts. However, we cannot change the devastating reality before us. Five officers have been murdered, and we can do nothing to change their fate.

Would you join me in a moment of silence … not a crusade, nor a debate, but an actual moment of silence.

Yes, we will do our best to remember and honor each officer’s life. We will gather together to pay tribute and offer condolences. We will show love and goodness through flowers, cards, balloons, money and fragrant memorials. We will gather to pray, to weep and to encourage.

Even so, our most noble efforts will not atone for the loss. Five officers have been murdered and we can do nothing to avoid this terrible truth.

We cannot hide from this reality. We cannot escape the truth of this existence. Now is not the time for indifference, avoidance, nor apathy. Now is not the time to rage against the wind nor to try and make it all better.

Leave your plans and programs for tomorrow. Today is a day of mourning. Leave your fiery rhetoric for another day. Today is a day for weeping. I don’t want to hear your politics or even your wise council. I need silence, I need space to mourn.

Five officers have been murdered and there is nothing I can write, say, or do to make this reality any less devastating. This is my offering, my response to this senseless tragedy. I choose this day to stand in silence. Will you join me?

Doug Bursch hosts “The Fairly Spiritual Show” at 6 p.m. Saturdays on KGNW 820 AM. He also pastors Evergreen Foursquare Church. Evergreen meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at 2407 M St. SE next to Pioneer Elementary School. He can be reached at www.fairlyspiritual.org or doug@fairlyspiritual.org.