Five Things to Reflect on in Your Own Life Following Las Vegas Attack

How did I find out? Probably like most of you reading an alert or in a breaking news story with the header, mass shooting in Las Vegas. ANOTHER. MASS. SHOOTING. This shook me a little bit because it happened in the hot spot of all our contest trips, Las Vegas. It was part of a three-day festival ending with Jason Aldean.

This picture above is of my wife, her sister and Jason Aldean when he visited Boise years aga. This was a surprise and she loved it. What if we had been there?

Here's a picture we took in Las Vegas during our party plane promotion. I think back to that night, the friends we took with us, the listeners that joined, and that BSU game we attended with everyone. That was an unbelievable weekend with friends, co-workers, listeners, and the Bronco Nation. What if that were Sunday?

That brings me to Monday morning. Here's a number of alerts that were pinging through in the middle of the night. The one that really caught my attention was worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The even more startling number is the over 500 injured. We had listeners in Vegas that night, friends, acquaintances, and it's all connected.

I received a call today that further showed me the direction we're headed.

A listener called explaining that a CBS Executive stated all the Vegas victims deserved to die because they were Republicans. She read it on Facebook. I had to stop her immediately. Stop. Quit. Don't.

Why are we so shallow that we believe everything we hear? Have we forgotten to use our own common sense? Even in the midst of the worst mass shooting in modern American history, we find a way to bring someone down based upon belief. We can blame it on one man, one message, fake news, the Russians, the emails, the kid in the classroom, her, the office worker that gossips about everything or we can start holding ourselves accountable. Why are your beliefs right and mine wrong?  We've stopped discussing issues and started arguing more about problems.

Life is complicated right now. I fear for my son's future and worry about the Earth's relationship with the ones who occupy it. We debate standing or kneeling but not why it's happening. The bullying online is more by adults and less by students. Grown-ups are just better at masking it. Here comes the gun debate and it will divide us even more than we are right now. A gunman walked into a school and killed 20 children between the ages of 6 and 7 years old at Sandy Hook Elementary. Nothing changed.

Life is about accountability and it's time we all start owning it.

I pray for everyone in Las Vegas, their families, and people affected by the unthinkable tragedy. I pray for the victims of the hurricanes that have destroyed people's lives. My heart breaks for the transgender community and the family of Joseph Steinfield who was murdered by 3 other teens in a hate crime. I could go on.

I also pray for us. I drop to a knee for you. Too many preach love and when you turn around - hate. We're a LONG way from getting better as a nation. We can't fix everyone. Don't try. Fix yourself and make a difference individually. Dig deep. Talk to your kids and friends. Don't point fingers at your neighbor. Look in a mirror and be honest with yourself. Are you doing everything you can to be a better person? It shouldn't take a tragedy to bring people together. I don't know why this man did what he did and I'll never be able to comprehend it. Here's what I can do.

• Say thank you.
• Say I love you.
• Be kind.
• Realize that I'm not perfect but I strive for perfection.
• Don't judge or gossip.
• Do something nice to a stranger at least one day a week.
• Stand-up for those who can't-do it for themselves.
• Treat others like you want to be treated.
• Respect each other.
• and make sure that everyone I come in contact with feels like they mean something.

Live your life like it's the only one you have. Someone asked me what they can do and I quoted from a Macklemore and Ed Sheeran song.

you put the work in, don't worry about the praise, my love Don't try to change the world, find something that you love and do it every day. Do that for the rest of your life and eventually, the world will change.

Tragedy consumes us with reflection. You something and it immediately makes you think of your own family and things you love the most. I turn to music like so many others. Songs speak to us, save our lives, and comfort. Maren Morris will be opening for Niall Horan at the Idaho Center and just released her song, Dear Hate. I think you'll be hearing more of this song because it's tender, emotional, innocent, sharp, honest, and how most of us feel. I can't wait to see it live.