Tragedy tends to either bring out the best or to bring out the worst in people. I like to think that most of the time, it brings out the best.
Sometimes I think I know. I think I know life and then something happens. Tragedy. And then I am reminded at how little I really know and how young I truly am. I'm not invincible, but I do believe I forget how fragile the human race truly is. In this fallen world, death and pain is inevitable.
Boston. My home.
Tragedy happens every day, but when it's close to home, our invincibility factor tends to evaporate. What invincibility? My home-- threatened. My fellow Bostonians-- attacked.
In my own school, young adults facing death.
Last night, I went to Faith Helbig's memorial.
I've never met Faith, and I don't even think I've seen her around really.
We never had a relationship, and she never knew my name.
We didn't have any deep conversations.
We never had a conversation at all.
Despite those minute details, my heart ached for my brothers and sisters in Christ who lost her.
Tragedy.
Whatever happened the day that she died changed my friends' lives forever, and I'll never really understand. I think I know life, but I don't.
As we stood with our unlit candles at the memorial, the wind sorrowfully blowing our hair into the mess that symbolized this situation, my eyes scanned the crowd of tearful college students and staff members who were mourning the death of this 18-year-old girl. Many were her friends, her family, her leadership and her acquaintances, and I am sure that many were like me.
Total strangers, witnessing tragedy.
As I stood there, I mourned for those people experiencing tragedy, and as I mourned, I realized that
I think I know life, but I don't.
I also realized that despite tragedy and despite my ignorance to life,
God is still God. He is still good. He is still in control.
He is still GOD.
The same God who parted the Red Sea.
The same God who allowed Job to experience intense trial so that God would be glorified.
The same God who used sinful people to serve Him.
The same God who is so completely holy that Moses had to hide in the cleft of a rock when He passed by and was only able to see the back of God.
The same God who sent His Son to die for the sin of mankind.
The same God who resurrected from the dead.
That's OUR GOD. He is Who He is, and He does not change.
The Lord gives and He takes away and beyond the depravity and feebleness of the human race,
He is GOD.
I don't understand tragedy... yet... but when I do, I strive to remember that GOD IS STILL GOD.
Sometimes I think I know. I think I know life and then something happens. Tragedy. And then I am reminded at how little I really know and how young I truly am. I'm not invincible, but I do believe I forget how fragile the human race truly is. In this fallen world, death and pain is inevitable.
Boston. My home.
Tragedy happens every day, but when it's close to home, our invincibility factor tends to evaporate. What invincibility? My home-- threatened. My fellow Bostonians-- attacked.
In my own school, young adults facing death.
Last night, I went to Faith Helbig's memorial.
I've never met Faith, and I don't even think I've seen her around really.
We never had a relationship, and she never knew my name.
We didn't have any deep conversations.
We never had a conversation at all.
Despite those minute details, my heart ached for my brothers and sisters in Christ who lost her.
Tragedy.
Whatever happened the day that she died changed my friends' lives forever, and I'll never really understand. I think I know life, but I don't.
As we stood with our unlit candles at the memorial, the wind sorrowfully blowing our hair into the mess that symbolized this situation, my eyes scanned the crowd of tearful college students and staff members who were mourning the death of this 18-year-old girl. Many were her friends, her family, her leadership and her acquaintances, and I am sure that many were like me.
Total strangers, witnessing tragedy.
As I stood there, I mourned for those people experiencing tragedy, and as I mourned, I realized that
I think I know life, but I don't.
I also realized that despite tragedy and despite my ignorance to life,
God is still God. He is still good. He is still in control.
He is still GOD.
The same God who parted the Red Sea.
The same God who allowed Job to experience intense trial so that God would be glorified.
The same God who used sinful people to serve Him.
The same God who is so completely holy that Moses had to hide in the cleft of a rock when He passed by and was only able to see the back of God.
The same God who sent His Son to die for the sin of mankind.
The same God who resurrected from the dead.
That's OUR GOD. He is Who He is, and He does not change.
The Lord gives and He takes away and beyond the depravity and feebleness of the human race,
He is GOD.
I don't understand tragedy... yet... but when I do, I strive to remember that GOD IS STILL GOD.
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