I grew-up in Colorado.
It was awesome.
I have nothing but fond memories of my hometown and my time spent in the Rocky Mountains and the Denver metro area. It was, and still is, such a beautiful place. You would be hard pressed to find a better place to live.
But even in the middle of all of this, disaster strikes and evil rears its ugly head.
Columbine
I’ll never forget Columbine.
Although my wife, baby daughter and I lived about an hour away from the actual shootings, the shockwave was felt. The television. The radio. My college classroom.
One of the local music radio stations allowed people to call-in and talk. It was therapy for the masses. Everyone felt so human. Everyone felt fragile and vulnerable.
The memorials were broadcast on television. I remember Jars of Clay and other music artists interrupting their schedules to join in the remembrance.
In spite of all the ugly and evil, beauty emerged from the darkness and good overcame evil.
Batman
Fast forward to this past opening weekend for the latest Batman movie, and we see that same evil and ugly coming to seek whomever it could swallow-up in just a few deadly minutes.
Again, we see, people like you. People like me. Excited to see an awesome movie. Coke and popcorn in hand, cell phone silenced, ready to have their imagination captured, but after only thirty minutes of cinematic bliss, it’s their fear that’s captured and in the case of far too many, their lives were stolen.
My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones and those who will never again restfully sit in a movie theatre or see an image of Batman without the events unfolding in their mind. The smoke, the screams, the shots, the horror and violence replayed in their mind, never to be erased.
Now What?
I’ve got to take a deep breath when I think about how those living in Colorado must be feeling, today. I have family and friends who live there. I remember what the aftermath and emotional roller coaster that Columbine was, and can only imagine the same can be felt as the dust continues to settle from this past weekend, as facts surrounding this tragedy and questions still swirl around.
So, now what? What’s our resolve? What does any of this mean? What’s at the end of the equation?
First off, ChurchMag will continue to enjoy the occasional burst of Batman fun. In no way do I believe this shooting was because of Batman, just as I don’t believe it had anything with Cain killing Abel.
But , let’s stop and be really honest for a moment.
Why?
That’s the real question, right?
And even though I have my answers and you have yours and we can throw around all of these theological terms and copy and paste scripture, that’s really what everyone wants to know.
But now is not the time.
It’s time to show love, grace and mercy for all of those surrounding the shootings in Colorado. Show some sensitivity and respect by saving doctrinal statements for later, after the wounds have had some time to heal.
This is an opportunity for compassion. This is a time for Love.
How would you rate the Christian response to this tragedy?
Jason D says
Dr. Albert Mohler had a good response:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/07/20/the-dark-night-in-denver-groping-for-answers/
in audio format: http://blob.soundgecko.com/storage/9e790862-88d8-4d66-a64d-d52ad837d560.mp3?se=2050-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z&sr=b&si=readonly-private&sig=b5VQKx33mVAxU%2F%2BWbidhER%2FRrHSxnLCGYDZOBjQrj%2BU%3D
Eric Dye says
This was awesome. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!!!
Vamos al Cine says
Such a terrible tragedy…
Eric Dye says
Indeed.