Some friends of mine are in campus ministry at the University of Virginia. Thought you'd be interested in a email I just received from them:
Friends,
I know you're aware of the tragedy at VA Tech. We in the college community of VA are completely numb. Tech is UVA's arch-rival. We love to "hate" them on the field or on the court... but that's in jest. Now... our "family" has been attacked by hate and the ugliness of fallen, human nature...and we are grieving deeply!
Over the past three summers I have led a Bible group for students in town. We have some Tech students regularly attend these studies. We know some of the students there. They are in great confusion today. Many are still waiting to hear from friends to know they're safe. Lots of chaos...
Prayer gatherings are popping up today (and this week) all around this Commonwealth. Our local community of faith plans to travel to Blacksburg later this week just to "be" with our family and grieve on-site with them. Blacksburg is about two hours away, in a sleepy little community... close to the back hills of southwest VA. Not where one would expect this sort of thing to happen.
What a picture of our desperate need for God. Our need may be "tucked" away and out of the mainstream of life. Our need often goes undetected until this sort of thing. Now we're forced into a head-on collision with our brokenness. We ALL are broken and have fallen short of the glory of God. Yes, you and me... all the families of this massacre... the gunman... the by-stander on the street.
We are the victims AND we are the one who pulled the trigger. We stand in solidarity with the family at V Tech. We grieve deeply with them. We moan and writhe in pain with them. Oh, who can deliver us from this ugliness...
... Yet our hope is in You, Lord. Our hope IS YOU! Meet us here. Meet our Loved Ones here... heal us and comfort us. Come, Prince of Peace. Come, Kingdom of God!
Thank you for your solidarity with us,
Lainie, Daniel and the entire college community of VA
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