Prayer for Blacksburg & Va. Tech

I'm sure most of you reading this have heard about the tragic shooting today at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. It was a shock to me, as it was I'm sure for everyone in the community. Having lots of family in Blacksburg, it hit me close to home since I have visited the Tech campus and Blacksburg many times. I actually have an uncle that works for the University and he works in the building next to Norris Hall where all the shootings took place. Praise God though, he is safe, although I'm sure somewhat traumatized as he heard the gunshots. I can't imagine what parents of the students are going through right now, much less the students themselves. I have a cousin as well who is in college at another school in Virginia, but I know she has many friends who attend the University since she went to high school in Blacksburg and a great many stay close to home. I do not know if any of her friends were victims.

Regardless, knowing or not knowing people that were affected does not reduce the impact this has. This is proof that life is too short, too fragile and we can be innocent bystanders and targets of hate crime at any time. To me, this brings home the urgency of having a relationship with our Lord and spreading Jesus' message of love and hope to a violent, hate filled, broken world. My prayers are with the community of Blacksburg as they heal from this and extend a helping hand to one another. I pray that Christians in the area will lead the way in helping with the healing and show the character of the loving God we joyfully worship.

Of course, I remember from my time in high school when I witnessed the horrifying events at Columbine High School unfold on live television. It was something that I have not forgotten and an event that has shaped my journey to where I am today and was a key event in my accepting Christ. I pray that today's shooting will affect others in similar ways, that they'll see the brokenness of this world and look to God for answers and healing.