The faces reflect the rich diversity of cultures one will find on most any college campus in the United States.  The faces come from places far and near:  Puerto Rico, China, Peru, India, Nova Scotia, Egypt, Indonesia, even Eastern Europe during the Holocaust, along with all the students from Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and of course, Virginia.  The faces span several generations.  They shine forth in joy, intelligence, hope, and yes, I dare say love.  There is no sense to be made from the massacre at Virginia Tech.  And if my child or husband or mother had been among those murdered, the usual platitudes would ring hollow: “your loved one is in a better place; there can be some good to come from this; we cannot see the big picture.”   

Although there is no incident in scripture even remotely similar to the horror of Monday morning, I think the Bible has an appropriate offering for our use during such times.  Actually, there is a whole book.  It is called Lamentations and it gives us permission, indeed, encouragement to engage openly and vocally, all the painful, confusing emotions that now overwhelm many of us.  As its name suggests, this book is filled with laments – songs of sadness and mourning, anger and regret – over reversal of fortunes.  Whenever the Israelites’ world was turned upside down, they lamented.  And their laments were not whimpering, sniveling, whining little tunes – rather, holding nothing back, they lambasted God, “This isn’t fair. . . we didn’t deserve this . . . this stinks, God!”  And as far as I can tell, God never punished the Israelites for lamenting their losses.  

Perhaps that is because God in Christ through the Holy Spirit is intimate and personal.  After all, Christ came to be with us.  Christ loves us more than life itself.  Consequently, Christ laments with us.  I do not imagine anyone has grieved more for the loved ones left behind by the VT slaughter than our Savior.  Furthermore, Christ knows that like confession, grieving is necessary for the healing of one’s soul.  Since you and I cannot erase the tragedy, the best we can do for now is to grieve with those who mourn, because the ministry of presence is the greatest comfort one can give another.

 Your sister and servant in Christ,

Belinda

If you are would like to drop me a note click here

Visitors to our home