Moments we will never forget

Back in 1993, my mother called me and told me how five people were shot at the Chuck E Cheese in Aurora, CO. Four people died that night at the hands of a sixteen year old boy with a grudge. My good friend Duane Trantham worked there (he was the guy in the suit) and had gone home less than 30 minutes before the killing occurred. I will never forget that phone call.

A sunny day in April, 1999, I heard over the radio about a school shooting at Columbine High School while I drove a van full of teenage boys to a track meet in Wisconsin. The first few reports did not identify which Denver area high school and my imagination began to run wild.

On September 11, 2001, I vividly remember Chris Heng telling me through the bathroom door about a plane hitting the World Trade Center and that I should probably listen to the radio on my way to work.

Some things will never be forgotten. Some things should never be forgotten. I think about these things as the worst campus shooting in United States history just took place at Virginia Tech. A place known for football and engineering, it will now forever be known for April 16, 2007. Many people will never be able to get that day out of their minds. Many lives have been changed forever.

These are the times when saying “God is in control”, is just not quite enough. We need something deeper. Sometimes we need to cry out in our prayers. It is no coincidence that many of the Psalms are songs of lament. In these situations I find Psalm 10 encouraging. Psalm 10:18 says the Lord hears our cries and defends us “. . .in order than man, who is of this earth, may terrify no more.” There will be trouble in this world, but God is good and someday justice and peace will reign. In the meantime, no matter what happens, it is true that God is still in control.