Tragedy
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| Hope in Tragedy |
When tragedy happens like Columbine, or 9/11 or the Batman movie theater shootings, the first question in our minds is probably why—why did this happen. And then the question quickly turns to who…who was hurt or killed and who could do such a thing? We begin to lash out at the person or persons who have caused pain, hurt, heartache and loss. We cry out for them to be punished, imprisoned or maybe even executed for what they have done.
When the random acts happen to people that you do not know, you may have one response but when you know someone who has either been affected by the criminal act or is the person who has committed the heinous crime, your response my be entirely different. I have experienced this very thing.
The news has been filled with the senseless murders in Colorado, but another crime happened last year that has had people calling for the death penalty. In a little publicized event a young man that I know stabbed a 10 year old girl in the abdomen while she was waiting for her dad at the local McDonald’s. Fortunately the little girl was not injured critically.
The young man had been diagnosed as a schizophrenic several years ago and clearly fit the pattern—disorganized thinking, bizarre delusions, lack of emotions and social dysfunction. He should have been taking his medication but for some reason was not.
The family of this young man who performed the stabbing was devastated by his behavior and care deeply about what happened to the young girl. They are a Christian family with many loving and caring extended members who have tried to get help for the trouble man over the years, but without success.
As I read the comments written by angry citizens lashing out at the mentally ill man who stabbed the young girl, my heart was broken. Broken for the little girl who will always a have to live her life wondering who might hurt her again…Broken for her parents who will never want her to be out of their sight again…Broken for the 22 year old man whose life is now ruined by this terrible crime…Broken for the grandmother who has faced many difficulties in her lifetime, but remained steadfast in her faith…Broken for the parents who must be questioning what they did wrong…Broken for the sibling who tried to be the caretaker for her brother…Broken for the extended family members who care about him.
Yes, this man committed an atrocity and must be punished, but he also needs help for his illness. My prayer is that no matter what sentence he receives, as he serves it out, he will be able to find healing in his body, mind and soul. I pray that he will find doctors who can help him both physically and mentally; that he will find chaplains that can minister to him spiritually; that he will find Jesus, who alone can restore him and give him a hope and a future.
I hope that you will pray with me for this troubled young man along with the one who carried out the horrific act in the movie theater in CO and many others who have executed terrible crimes against others. I also hope that the next time you hear about a crime like this, you will think of the victims and their families and lift them up to our heavenly Father, but that you will also think of the accused and their families and pray for them too.
Matthew 5:44-45 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
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