Some days even with your head buried in the sand you cannot avoid it. The conflict in the world. The battle with an "idealism" of radical Islam. It seems the world has gone crazy, off-kilter, and beyond explanation. There is evil in the world and as long as it is here, it will cause chaos. The only thing I know that can overcome this chaos is peace in the form of God's love for us. And until we can show the world how REAL His love is, they will keep searching.
Those who commit these kinds of killing may have ideas of recognition, for some kind of reward --in one form or another, for a temporary rush of adrenaline or drug affect that makes one think they are invincible. We may ask "Why? do they do these things?" As humans we want to blame someone or something. But that is not all, we also want to understand why such a thing would happen.
I suppose my line of thinking was brought on by the killings and wounding of military personnel in Chattanooga yesterday. It was also the day of judgement of guilty of first degree murder of a man who killed 12 and injured over 70 in an Aurora Colorado movie theater in 2012. I will not name these people; I will not give them any recognition; I will try not to judge them. I will leave that to God. But I was struck by the fact that one of four Marines killed in Chattanooga was 21 years old and was in the city for 2 weeks of reserve training.
This young man graduated the same year as my daughter (2012). My daughter, Carol, died in Feb 2013. The news reporter said his last text to his girlfriend said "active shooter". He had no way of defending himself. I cannot imagine what his parents are going through. I don't know what it would be like to have another human take the live of one to which i gave life. I pray for God's comfort to be so very real to them.
So many questions these days---why, why, why???? So many in pain, so many looking for answers. All I know is it is hard to lose one we love to a crazy situations without some kind of explanation. I was looking for a blog that a woman had written who had been in the movie theater in Aurora, CO when a man killed 12 and injured 70 some, when I came across an article by Lee Strobel. I think his examination of the most asked question of "Why does God allow suffering and tragedy?" is very well stated. You can find the transcript of his speech at https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/07/why-does-god-allow-tragedy-and-suffering/
The one statement that rings true with me in this speech by Lee Strobel is this: when bad things happen we can either turn bitter and run away from God or turn to God for peace and comfort. I have turned to God for peace in some life lessons and have had no regrets. I know I will see my daughter again some day and if I still want to know 'why?" about her death, it may make more sense when God explains it to me in heaven than now.
I am praying for all involved in the Chattanooga tragedy. Although we search for answers and a way to keep it from happening again, I pray those affected will realize God's love for them even in this hard loss. He is the only one who can help up through times like these and He has promised to do so. And that is a promise I have known as truth.
Judy
July 17, 2015
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