12/16/12

In light of what has happened this past Friday in Connecticut with the killings of the elementary children and adults, my heart has been heavy.

As a teacher, I know the drills we go through to protect our children.  Whether it is a fire drill, a tornado drill, or a "code blue" drill where we go into lockdown, we go through them as calmly as we can to help the children know how to react if those drills actually became reality.

I can recall so many times of sitting in the room with my children during a lockdown.  I think of the possibilities, think of how we need to be quiet, and get on kids who think this is just a time to get under a desk and make noises.  We wait patiently for the few minutes to pass before the "all clear" comes on the loud speaker and we go back to our normal activities.  We give no thought as to "what if" because we can't live there.... we are there to comfort our students and help them know everything is going to be alright.  We have to show calmness in times of fear because little ones depend on it.

On Friday, a drill became reality for those children and adults in Newtown, Connecticut.  A reality that I cannot fathom.

I will be honest... I have not been able to shed any tears.  My heart has been in too much shock and my mind cannot comprehend what transpired there.  I look at the pictures of the children who were killed and I see my own students.  I look at the pictures of the brave adults, whether teacher, counselor, or principal and cannot imagine their last moments alive.  I think of what it would have been like to be them.

What must have gone wrong in that young man's head that he chose to walk into an elementary and kill so many innocent people?

What goes on in ANY person's mind when something like this occurs?

There has been much debate on the news and social media as to what is the reason behind this madness.

There are many who want to blame what has happened on guns.

There are others who feel it is because God has been taken out of schools.

There are even others who say we shouldn't even be discussing this in that way and only think of the families who were affected by this tragic event.

I can't help but think of all three.

Guns are dangerous.  Guns can also be used for good.  Guns did not kill those precious children and adults.  A young man who made a choice to use a gun is who killed them.  

God has been removed from public schools.  Our hands are tied with what is and is not politically correct.  There are Christians in public settings, in public schools, but in this type of tragic event a Christian is not a super hero... we are human just like everyone else and we do our best to protect and help those around us.

These people who have been affected have lost their loved ones, whether a child or a Mom/sister/daughter/friend.  They need the time to come to grips with what they have lost and to mourn without all of the analyzing from media and the ridiculous questions that are asked. 

We, as humans, want to pinpoint the answer on something or someone.

The root of all of this is simply sin.

We live in a fallen world. One where man chooses to do what is right in his own eyes.

Satan, the great Deceiver, has blinded the minds and hearts of many people.  Just as he tempted Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden, so he continues in our world today.  He wants to do everything in his power to cause us to fall and to cause us to blame God.  Scripture tells us that the world will grow worse and worse the closer it is to the Lord's return.  We can love as much as possible, but our humanness causes even our love to be imperfect.

Perfect love came when God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to become payment -the sacrifice - for sin.  It is the reason we celebrate this season of Christmas.  With society wanting to move farther and farther away from the reason for this season, is there any wonder tragedies like this still occur?  

No amount of human love can take away tragedies.

No amount of laws can change tragic events such as this.

Most people today do not want to be reminded or told of their sin.... they only want to find a way to make it all better while excluding the only One Who can and will.

My mother's heart aches for the families.

My teacher's heart can't wait to see my students in the morning and hug them and let them know I love them.

My spiritual heart yearns for the Lord to bring His eternal peace.

.... Even so, come, Lord Jesus......
 for YOU are the only One Who can save us from ourselves.