In the wake of the Vegas shooting on Sunday night that left 59 dead and more than 500 wounded, I’ve been mulling over these thoughts. Where were the neighbors? Why didn’t anybody say something when this deranged loner was stockpiling weapons? Surely somebody, and presumably several somebodies, saw something.

​It’s the same thought I have when I hear about human trafficking –- and right in my own neighborhood. How can somebody keep a precious woman, child, or even multiple children, a “secret” in our society of cell phones, cameras, travel, etc.? I digress slightly here, but I thank God for the Uber driver and the flight attendant who were recent heroes by “blowing the whistle” for two frightened, young women who turned out to be the victims of human trafficking – and were RESCUED because two people, in the regular course of their day, saw something out of the ordinary and said something.

Where were those people in the life of this demented lunatic, who went on a shooting spree from his luxury condo 32 floors up in Vegas on Sunday night?!? I am not looking to the government to further regulate how, what, or where I can buy (although I don’t see the need for any private citizen to be permitted to own a high-capacity assault rifle, but that’s a discussion for another day). I am asking, “Where are the people– maybe just one or two – who noticed or suspected this person was acting strangely and that perhaps somebody should follow up with him?”  Would it be you? Could it be me?

​On behalf of the 59 dead and more than 500 wounded in Vegas, and the countless other victims or potential victims who are living even today in your neighborhood and mine, I beg of you –- if you see something, say something. To fully love your neighbor, you have to actually know your neighbor. Eyes open. Look up from your phone and your own set of circumstances (preaching to myself here, too) and ENGAGE in the lives of those around you. Somebody’s life could depend on it, and that’s no joke.

Thank you for taking the time to read this through. Let’s now go out and DO – truly loving our neighbor by being engaged in the lives of those around us.

Until next time,

Lisa Toth