Many of us are at a loss for words after the senseless wickedness of an angry young man killing 32 innocent students at Virginia Tech. There will be time for reflection and analysis later. For now, we should pray for the injured and the grieving.
In the final hours of His life, Jesus gave this assurance of His comfort and His presence in times of suffering:
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. — John 16:33, NLT
My blogging friend Mark Daniels has re-posted four fine essays he wrote over two years ago on a Christian perspective on suffering. They are: When Tragedy Hits the Innocent, Part 1, When Tragedy Hits the Innocent, Part 2, When Tragedy Hits the Innocent, Part 3, When Tragedy Hits the Innocent, Part 4.
Another terrific resource by another blogging friend, Mark Ritter of Sword and Spirit, is God is Great, God is Good, so why do bad things happen? This is a presentation on the Christian theology of evil, available for download in either Microsoft Powerpoint or Quicktime Movie format. (Sword and Spirit has created a number of excellent Christian apologetics presentations. Scroll down the list to find “God is Great.”)
Pray for healing and peace.
SELAH ! columbine/va tech SOLUTION? 1951-2007- ?
Carl V. “Sam” Lamb and I served side-by-side as rifle-squad leaders; Fox Company, ‘Chesty’ Puller’s 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He wrote a book about our experiences in the Korean conflict, 1950-1951. He included my remarks about an incident in which one of our people threatened to punch-out a fellow squad-leader-guideon who had black skin.
The page follows:
+ + +
THE LAST PARADE
by Carl V. “Sam” Lamb Page 296 (ref: 1951)
James Fletcher Baxter
“Sam” and I had a lot in common. We both resisted evil. After I got out of the hospital, Big Jim Causey told of driving along in his police cruiser and hitting a black man in his head with his pistol. He thought it was funny how the guy sprawled into the street. When he made this comment we were in a card game. I didn’t say anything, but then he said he was going to kick the ____ out of Joe Goggins and I had heard enough.
I said, “If you’re going to try that, you’ll have to go through me to get to him. I’m willing to give my life for a country that values each individual. If that isn’t true, I don’t want to fight for that country – but, it is true, so I’m not going to let you rob me of the very good reason I may lose my life tomorrow or next week. If you attack him, you attack me. I may lose, but I guarantee I will make it very expensive for you to get to him. Let me know what you decide.”
He got up from our card game and said, “I’ll have to think about it.”
I said, “Let me know. I’ll be here.”
He came back a little later and said, “You’re right. I was wrong.” I thanked him for his manliness.
Joe Goggins came to me later and thanked me. He had wet eyes.
+ + +
4/25/07
JFB
Shortly after the above event, Jim Causey was called home for family member medical problems. On his way back to the States, he passed through a Naval medical facility. While there, he ran into my brother, Sgt. Howard “Barney” Baxter, 5th Marines, who had just been sent stateside for his Chosen Reservoir frost-bitten feet.
Causey told my brother what had happened and said “how much it had changed his life.” He said Joe and I had forgiven him and he would “never go back to the old collective point of view.” He was really joyful because he was honestly able to forgive himself! He became a more manly man – a good Marine – with honor.
I’m pleased the Rutgers women accepted Imus’ apology. They, and others, need to forgive. We all need to grow. Good examples are always in short supply. God bless my Country and its Individuals.
vincit veritas
Jim Baxter
Sgt. USMC
WWII and Korean War
5
th Grade Teacher – 30 wonderful years! ’57- ’87
semper fidelis