A tragedy close to home

As all of you know on Monday April 16 a student at Virginia Tech mass murdered 32 people at his University. Words can not even express just how shocked and saddened I was when I heard the news. It is one of those instances where you will never forget where you were when you heard about the shootings. I will always remember that I was in between teaching classes at a Virginia middle school when I heard the news. Like so many others I immediately paused to think if I knew anyone who would have been there. Even though everyone I know from there is safe, it is impossible to not be effected by this tragedy. I have never understood how anyone could take away the life of another person. Yet here is a human being who viciously murdered 32 innocent people and then took his own life. A University is supposed to be a safe environment for study and living yet here this week we see once again that there are few truly “safe” places left in the world.

One can never know when tragedy will strike. All I can think about now are the poor parents of those kids who were killed. How will they pick up the pieces? They will be forever scared by this senseless act of rage. My prayers go out to them tonight. All sorts of other thoughts run through my brain at times like this. What would I have done if I were in one of those dorm halls or class rooms? Am I ready to meet God like those 33 souls did on Monday? Am I making the most of the time that God has given me?
I guess I am typing all of this to get some of my thoughts out and to ask everyone to pray for the wounded survivors as well as all of the families and students affected by this event. Another important family to remember is the family of the student who murdered everyone. Not only are they grieving the loss of their child but they must also be going through a tremendous amount of guilt and shame right now. Let’s remember to pray for God to grant all affected by this tragedy peace and comfort in the coming days.