I am still reeling from the Virginia Tech shootings. As a student I remember feeling utterly safe as I traversed the drill field and made my new home cozy by building a loft in my dorm room. I remember being awed by the scale of the campus that quickly became manageable due to a mountain bike and familiarity with buildings. I relished my independence in making decisions without my parent’s immediate input- where, what and how I would study, what I would eat for dinner, who to be friends with and where to go to parties. This is a place where hippies, punks, jocks and band kids interacted easily- where the international students seemed to feel and accepted. My heart breaks for the families, for the faculty and staff and most of all for the lost innocence of the entire community. The citizens of Blacksburg are a softhearted but gritty-strong people who embrace the students as one of their own.
At first I felt outrage at the needless atrocity. Here were a bunch of kids- the bloom of life is never so robust as that of a college student coming into their own and pursing their first passions, finding their own voice. To have such a life curtailed is truly a tragedy. Now a deep sadness pervades my spirit over all that has been lost.
Sitting with my father recently, we traded war stories about our previous week. So much sadness, hurt and heartache-- all very real and worthy of the angst produced in both of our psyches. Yet I have the assurance that in the morning it will feel just a bit better and not seem nearly as dark and oppressive as the evening before. This man who shot these young adults did not have that perspective. If seems a crime to feel that desperate and lonely. With whom did he have relationships with? Was there a group of people to help ground him? Was he aware of the healing and grace that can come only through our Lord Jesus? As a parent I can only imagine the hurt and longing that his parents must feel for their son. My prayers are with them. May our children never have to go through this.
At first I felt outrage at the needless atrocity. Here were a bunch of kids- the bloom of life is never so robust as that of a college student coming into their own and pursing their first passions, finding their own voice. To have such a life curtailed is truly a tragedy. Now a deep sadness pervades my spirit over all that has been lost.
Sitting with my father recently, we traded war stories about our previous week. So much sadness, hurt and heartache-- all very real and worthy of the angst produced in both of our psyches. Yet I have the assurance that in the morning it will feel just a bit better and not seem nearly as dark and oppressive as the evening before. This man who shot these young adults did not have that perspective. If seems a crime to feel that desperate and lonely. With whom did he have relationships with? Was there a group of people to help ground him? Was he aware of the healing and grace that can come only through our Lord Jesus? As a parent I can only imagine the hurt and longing that his parents must feel for their son. My prayers are with them. May our children never have to go through this.
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