As I write this I continue to be shocked by the events ofApril 16 at Virginia Tech. Unimaginable and senselessviolence invaded the quiet college town of Blacksburg,and the people and students in that community will neverbe the same again. As the media reports on the tragedyand its aftermath, many are weighing in, some accusingschool officials and local police of inadequatelyresponding to the shootings and failing to keep studentsand faculty safe, while others try to make some sense outof an event that makes no sense. Experts analyze theassailant’s history and state of mind in an effort to help usunderstand what would prompt someone to slaughterinnocent people. Questions about gun control and ourculture of violence are again being raised.
I am grateful that our denomination respondedimmediately to this tragedy through our PresbyterianDisaster Assistance National Response Team. Rev.Robert Barnes, a retired police chaplain with specialtraining and experience in responding to schoolshootings, Rev. James Kirk from Naples, Florida, andAnne Van Allen from Maryland, a retired schoolcounselor with over 30 years of school related mentalhealth experience, traveled to Virginia Tech to be ahealing presence and resource to the traumatizedcommunity. Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick sent out acall to prayer for the students and their families, and forthose who will support the community in the days ahead.
As an Easter people we can affirm that God brings lifewhere there is death, and that God stands with all whosuffer and will bring healing and peace to the students ofVirginia Tech and to the Blacksburg community. Let usbe faithful in prayer for those who suffer and have lost somuch. Let us pray for the family of the assailant, ChoSeung-Hui. Let us do all that we can wherever we are tobe peacemakers, people who are called to “the ministry ofreconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18) in the name of Jesus Christ.
Faithfully,
Pastor Tom
Thursday, April 26, 2007
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