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A mass shooting, 50 people dead, more than that injured -- and another shooter with ties to radical Islamic terrorism has been identified.
The horrific act of violence in Orlando was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history -- and Americans all over the country are pausing and attempting to come to terms with the tremendous carnage and destruction.
In so many of these moments of national grief and terror, communities turn for solace to prayer and faith. The hours and days following these tragedies bring survivors together through vigils to remember the victims, and also to be with one another through the grief and shock.
It's a normal human reaction that we have seen over and over again. But through social media, people from all over the country can support the families of the victims through prayer as well.
"We believe in God and we will keep praying and asking for prayers," Barron Cerrano told The Guardian. Cerrano's brother, Juan Rivera, 37, was one of the victims.
"God bless us all and give us strength in our time of need," wrote one relative of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, who was only 20. "Lord guide us with your light so we don't live in fear of the darkness evil brings."
"I have no words to describe this great friend and human being, and above all, my brother," wrote one friend of Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36. "Everyone who knows us knows what a great friendship we shared and what a great man he was. I adore you. You'll always be in my heart. How empty you've left us. Wow, Eric Ortiz. May God hold you in his glory."
"The world lost an amazing soul," wrote the brother of Cory Connell, just 21 years old. "God just got the best of angels."
"The best godmother anyone could ever ask for. RIP Amanda Alvear. You will be missed my angel. I love you," read one of the tributes on this victim's Facebook page. She was 25.
"We're not always going to understand why tragedy happens, but true faith means trusting God when life doesn't make sense," wrote Norkis Fernandez-Valdez about two of the victims: Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26, and Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31.
These are just a few of the notes of remembrance to each of the 49 victims of this act of terror (the 50th, the terrorist himself, was killed by police). So many are turning to their faith in God to bring them through this hardship.
For each person who knew and loved these now-deceased people, comfort can only be found in prayer and community. The terrible reality that so many lives have been tragically cut short due to terrorist actions carried out by one man cannot be understood through reason, or even understood at all -- but these families ask for prayers in their time of grief.
And if America can be united in prayer and support for those who survive, the community in Orlando can begin to rebuild.
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