Just wait for the good guys....

Just one week ago, the biggest concerns of 20 children were their Christmas lists, who they would play with at recess, homework, snack time, and the upcoming break.  School was always meant to be a safe haven.  While adults may skirmish, disagree, and even inflict pain on one another, children were meant to be kept safe from all of that.  An unspoken rule.  You stop talking about the world's problems or you quiet your voice during an argument when a child enters the room and do everything you can to shield children from the horrible reality of the world you live in.  Even in jail, those who harm children cannot expect any favors from other inmates.  They were supposed to be forbidden territory.  As adults, we expect to outlive our kids.  That's just the way it's supposed to be.  That wasn't the way it went on Friday.  I cannot imagine the terror, the confusion, the horrific scene that was the school on Friday morning.  I wish we could take away the memories of the kids, teachers, and first responders so that they wouldn't see those visions again, in their sleep, whenever they looked at a child.  I know in my heart of hearts that God welcomed 20 new kings and queens that morning.  Kings and Queens  They are in Heaven.  Their families will be hurting this holiday season, finding little to be merry and jolly about, and words will not heal their broken hearts.  Sometimes as Christians we tell those who are hurting to "trust God", that their kids are in a "better place" (which I do believe they are), or that this was "God's will."  How trite do those words seem just hours after their loss?  Are those words true?  Yes.  However there is a time and place for those words and it's okay to grieve.  It's only natural to hurt and question and we need to give them time.  We need to let them grieve and lament over their unexpected loss, over their empty place at the table, over the presents that will never be opened, the birthdays and graduations that will never occur, and the future that's been taken away.  I pray that God will comfort them as only God can.  He alone is the Healer, the Giver, the Prince of Peace.  Through Him alone will they heal.

There were several heroes that day.  From the teachers doing what they'd been trained to do, those who alerted the rest of the school to the danger, and the police and SWAT teams that saw horrific images and, as usual, go towards the shooting instead of away from it, there was good....and.....there were good guys that came.  I'm proud to live in a country filled with dedicated civil servants, soldiers, and citizens willing to give their all for people they don't know.

When I started thinking about it, I realized how much I've seen in my 32 years.  During my life, I've seen a lot more tragedies that I thought.  Thankfully, not much has affected me personally or hit extremely close to home (except 9/11).  The Challenger explosion, first WTC bombing, Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine, Virginia Tech, 9/11, the uni-bomber, first Gulf War (I remember watching the missiles on TV), current wars, current shootings....I call "uncle".....it's enough.  But my peace does not come from the world I live in but only in the Lord and Creator of the universe.

Some question where God was, how He could allow bad things to happen to innocent kids, and why He didn't stop it.  While it hurts and seems callous, there's evil in the world.  And the choice made so long ago (that was also blamed on another) by the first man, is what set in motion the events of the world.  
Whenever tragedies happen, we blame whoever and whatever we can.  Whether we are questioning gun control, standards and laws in place, the response of the police and EMTs, or how someone was raised, there's only one to blame.  The choice of the person involved.  Several times we refuse to take personal responsibility for our actions and we blame everything else but the choice.  It started thousands of years ago with a choice.  Unfortunately, choices we make hurt those around us.  I pray we can find solutions to help those struggling with mental illness to keep them safe and keep those around them safe. I pray that we can keep our children safe.  I pray that we don't forget the victims and remember them and their healing in the coming months and years.