Sunday, April 22, 2007

What did we learn?


As I prepared to go into work Monday, I noticed that the death toll in the massacre at Virginia Tech was multiplying by the tens for a period of time. It took watching the convocation the next day to feel the sting of tears and sense the real – 33 lives cut horribly short, and for what?
A co-worker mentioned that we're just too busy to notice those around us - we're often too absorbed in our modern technology in some way to pick up on someone who's hurting, or to the extreme, intends to harm him or herself and others.
On Wednesday on the way home from work, I heard Disturbed cover of "Land of Confusion," originally by Genesis.

“There’s too many men
Too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see
This is a land of confusion.

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we’re given
Use them and let’s start trying
To make it a place worth living in.”

These words seem like a good point of reference to start from in trying to move forward.
To some degree, people were trying to help the alleged assailant. It’s possible no amount of intervention short of locking him up would have prevented Monday’s horrific events.
But this should be a reminder to all of us to pay attention to our surroundings and those who inhabit them - whether they be online or in person.
We must be aware and vigilant about those we come in personal contact with on a daily basis. I’m not advocating we all stick our noses in each others’ business unnecessarily. But we should be mindful of those who might need our help and reach out. If the return response seems unnatural or downright troubling, then we might need to get someone else involved, at least another trusted friend, if not law enforcement or another relevant agency.
Let’s stick our heads up out of our computers and text messages long enough to make sure those around us are doing OK and not planning anything sinister or brutal.
And let’s let our friends from Virginia Tech continue to pick up the pieces of shattered lives and continue to move toward healing – hopefully a lasting one anchored in Jesus Christ. In the long term, let’s all do what we can to keep it from happening again.