Most emails are easy to write. Not this one.

The campus of MSU is 71 miles away.

To get there by car from Frankenmuth takes about an hour and 10 minutes.

But late Monday night and early Tuesday morning all of our hearts went to MSU quicker than a blink.

All it took was for us to get the news about an active shooter on campus and immediately our hearts connected with the fear, pain, and sorrow there.

This image on social media particularly caught my eye.

Our hearts are right where they should be.

Yours. Mine.

All of ours.

Now, I’ll admit –

it’s difficult to know what the answer is to tragedies like this.

They’re so heartbreaking.

I’m still wrestling – perhaps just like you – with a number of questions.

So, while our hearts are properly where they should be, please know our heads and hands remain committed to always doing what we can to keep FSD’s schools and activity spaces welcoming, safe, and secure.

Finger-pointing and blaming won’t help us accomplish this.

Only doubling down on our efforts in this area will.

You know, every adult eagle in nature has the instinct to be ever-vigilant in the protection their young.

FSD will do the same as well.

But it will take all of us.

Thank you for your caring heart, head, and hands.

They’re needed more than ever today.