Rather close to home...

The tragic events that unfolded at Virginia Tech this week have hit very close to home. This university is less than a three-hour drive from my hometown. I know many Hokies fans. It is the type of place, much like where I'm from, where you don't ever imagine anything like this ever occurring.

But it did. And a number of people are pointing fingers and assigning blame. I was one of them. My initial reaction was "why didn't they put the entire campus on lock down?". As we find out more about the events that took place, it seems that everyone in authority acted to the best of their abilities. It seems rather ridiculous to assign guilt in the face of the sheer loss of life that has taken place. Instead of searching for flaws and pouncing upon possible missteps in the actions of the authorities, we should devote a great deal of prayer for comfort to the families of the victims.

Another loss that I find to be distressing is that of school as an institution in which people seek knowledge and find it, without fearing the loss of life. Yesterday, I found myself feeling vulnerable as I walked across my own college campus. I am saddened by the knowledge that I am undoubtedly not alone in this experience. I wonder if this nagging worry will plague me daily when I embark on my career as a teacher. I wonder how the teachers and students at Virginia Tech will ever be able to walk through the doors of their beloved institution again without experiencing the horror anew. We should pray for them, too.

It would seem that this is a time when troubles and sadness are plentiful, answers are few, and comfort is being sought by many. My prayer is that those seeking answers and comfort turn to God, for He alone can bring solace to the grieving.