No easy answers....

The other day I was talking with the librarian at one of our local libraries about the subject of teaching our kids about strangers which lead to a discussion on how “it was when we were growing up”. During the summer we were up at dawn and out the door. Nothing left but the dust from our bike tires. We were home when it started to get dark. No one worried where you were, or how you were. Maybe that was just our parents, yet it was a time where you could let your children sleep on the porch through the night with no fear of them being taken or harmed. There have been a great many tragedies in our time. I will be 39 this year and have lived through many. However, this week’s tragedy at VT is breath stopping. I don't know about you, but I began to reflect back when I lived on campus. I then began to think of my friends children who live on a campus today. I thought of my own son as I drop him off at school and I remember the pit I had in my stomach watching him walk up the stairs.

We don’t live in “Utopia” we live in a fallen world where some people actually hurt others without a second thought and then in their own desperation, angst, darkness, feeling no escape they turn that “corner” and end their life to forever darkness.

My heart is truly at a stand still. A friend emailed me today and shared, “I had a friend call me for one reason--"answer a question for me," she stated. "Will the ones who didn't know Jesus who died go to heaven because they were murdered?" It was sad to tell her, "No, they would not go to heaven just because they were murdered."

There are no easy answers here. There never will be.
I do know this, our God is still on HIS throne, He does care, He does love us, He is here for us, He does grieve with us...

The only word I can think of here…which will be a hard one for many to grasp will be one of the most difficult “f-words” in our vocabulary. Forgiveness…and what that will mean. I remember listening to a message and the pastor stating, “Many of us will not have to make the choice to give our lives for another.” Today I listened to students share how their professor at VT gave his life to save them. Tomorrow and the next day and the next...will begin the cycle of grieving.

Forgiveness….forgiveness…one of the most difficult words and actions. Yet, the most freeing. I don't know when that will come for those who have lived through this...but I pray their cycle of grieving brings them to that "door step"...that "Cross" road where they can lay it down.

Okay, my heart is heavy and very ponderous. I hear my daughter calling me, telling me she has had a bad dream and I am reminded to go and “pray to Jesus” with her.

I pray you all feel the warmth of God’s presence in your life and may you lavish in His embrace.

Thank you, Lord for sending us your Holy Spirit...the Comforter. My words are few...Know my heart, that I love you.