A friend of mine, Jeremy, is a worship leader in Blacksburg, VA, and wrote a touching reflection on the tragedy there. I hope it shows you how, in the face of such evil, God is there and loving His children. He also has this scripture on his page:
“…and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4)”
Today is Maroon and Orange in Effect day here in Blacksburg and surrounding areas. With that in mind, I got up this morning and put on my VA Tech Hokies t-shirt a top of my orange long sleeve shirt and ventured over to campus. It has been a really horrific time here this past week and the grieving seems far from being over.
On campus where students and Hokie supporters from all over the country and even some parts of the world. Even though a few thousand seemed to be there, the atmosphere was very somber and silent. Every moment or two you would hear the sounds of broken hearts, along with words of comfort and consolation. There were quite a number of Christians present who there for anyone in need of prayer, a hug, or just someone to cry with. There were so many people hurting and grieving that just walking up beside them and placing your arm around there brought immediately into a common union with them as pain was being shared through many tears. One of the memorials set up on campus was lined with flowers, candles, notes, stuffed animals, Bibles, and various other objects symbolic of those who lost their lives. Outlining the parameter of the memorial were rock stones laid out, one for each victim in the shooting who had died. The names of the people who died were written on the stones and they were adorned with American flags and flowers. Seeing this I realized due to my busyness I have not yet really stopped to take it all in. In this very moment where reality finally caught up to me, I could not help but to shed tears for the innocent myself and start to feel God’s heart and grief for them, as well as the shooter himself.
In the midst of this emotional time, the media did not hesitate to make their presence known. As soon as you stopped for a moment of silence, there was a microphone or camera in your face. Some representatives of the media were truly sympathetic, while others tried everything that could to get to you talk bad about the VT administration and whoever else people are deeming responsible during this time. I was approached by another pastor, who asked me to take part in a documentary that was being recorded there on campus, so I agreed. All we had to do was him and I had to sit down and just express in a conversation with one another what our views on guns and today’s violence. Him and I took every advantage to share the love of Jesus with one another and express the Lord’s heart for those involved as well as in other areas, such as Columbine a few years ago. Being the nature of our conversation being filmed by a secular film crew, I don’t know how much will be edited, how much will be used or if they will use any at all. All I know is that I used every opportunity to talk about the love of Jesus Christ and His heart for the world. Even if they don’t use the footage, there was a crew there that know now why I stand for what I do so passionately. I do not care who I affend with my beliefs. I will speak the truth in love and live out loud. I don’t care who you are….I will not be silent!
Before leaving, I walked in the Memorial Chapel there on campus. It was decorated with beautiful flowers and many candles. Many people were present praying and interceeding for the friends and families of those who lost. I took a moment to sit down in one of the pews and the presence of God hit me so strong, that I am even in tears right now as I write this remembering the portion of His heart He revealed to me at that moment. Those who were there seemed to also be believers. Probably some in there today, hopefully became believers for the first time, I don’t know. I just know there, we all loved one another and were of one heart together.
From the chapel, I couldn’t take anymore and had to depart campus. I was great affected when the Columbine shootings happened and I never thought I would only be one mile away when the greatest massacre in U.S. history occured. But now I find myself as part of a wound that will not heal quickly as the healing slowly begins. Our hearts our broken, our spirits in need of lifting, our desperation of wanting redemption and justice at the forefront of our minds. But besides all of the questions, I do know that this tragedy is not the work and of the character of the God I follow…the Lord Jesus Christ. His heart is in the people who are reaching out, who are praying, who are giving up their time to reach out to others who so desperately need it during this time. I believe God will turn these things for the good and use this in some sort of way for the better of mankind and for those in the heart of Virginia Tech. Sorrow may be the emotion for tonight, but joy shall come in the morning.
Although I am an alumni of Appalachian State University and consider myself a “Mountaineer” to the max, I am proud to say that today, I am a Hokie. I am a Hokie who proudly wears the maroon and orange colors of our school. I am a Hokie like all the others who will survive this and move on to even greater heights. We will prevail, we will prevail, we will prevail…….WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH!
Neat graphics using scripture.
The best coffee in the whole world!!
