In the wake of the Connecticut school shooting last week, I have been pondering what, if anything, to say about it. There has been a lot of talk about US schools excluding God, resulting in a 'what do you expect' attitude. As if God had some kind of vendetta against American schools and decided to take it out on some innocent 5 and 6 year olds and their teachers. Try telling that to the families of the victims of the Nickel Mines Amish school tragedy 6 years ago!
The Amish are probably the best people to offer hope and comfort to the grieving families of Connecticut. After all, they have been there too, lost children in a senseless shooting. Or the families of Dunblane, Scotland, who in 1996 suffered a similar tragedy - 16 children and one teacher shot. Truly only those who have lost a child, in whatever cicumstances, can hope to understand what these families are going through. I cannot even begin to grasp the enormity of losing a child.
Actually, yes I can, but that is another story.
The fact is, tragedy happens; evil goes about in this world, seeking someone or something to destroy. And those who are left ask why? Why should innocent children be murdered in this way? What is the answer? It was interesting to see just how many in the States turned to the church for comfort; it was also interesting to see how many blamed God for the situation - even those who do not believe in God suddenly found Him a convenient target for blame. The fact is, we need someone to blame. Adam Lanza has deprived the families of blaming him - after all, his family life doesnt seem to have been the best example he could have had and the word is he was mentally ill, so we cant blame him. So who is to blame? Well, all of us really. Why is there evil in the world? It is because of sin - an old fashioned term to be sure, but valid. Long ago, when the world first dawned, two people were given everything they could possibly want in a veritable Paradise. But they wanted more and when it was offered, they rejected God and grasped onto the temptation with both hands. Sin entered the world, and with it, the evil we see today and have seen down through all the centuries - man's inhumanity to man, each one of us wanting more to spend it on our selfish desires and using any method we find useful to get it.
Of all the articles and posts I have read about the Connecticut shooting (and there have been many), the one thing that stands out is that everyone has an opinion to offer and they are as varied as the people who worte them. However, the opinion that comes closest to my own was an article that was not written as a response to the tragedy, but written several days before it. I offer the link below for your perusal:. It was posted on December 4th; you will need to scroll down the page to see it, as there is no direct link:
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