At the University of Georgia football game on Saturday, the flag flew at half-mast as all flags in Georgia will until the last interment of the four who perished in the Apalachee school shooting. As we observed a moment of silence for them, many of us took that time to pray on behalf of the victims and their families.
We’ve read firsthand accounts from brave teachers and students at Apalachee High School who
acted in heroic ways during the school shooting this week. Every time I do, tears
well in my eyes at the unimaginable difficulty they went through.
Somewhere, people read about this
tragedy in a few news cycles, then after several days, the feed segues and their attention is drawn to more
current news . For those who went through those horrifying few minutes, whether
they were physically injured or not, they will carry effects from being there
their entire lifetimes. Hopefully, God will bring healing and help so that they
eventually do not experience the memories in the same intensity— still they will remember.
Jerry pastors a church only
seventeen miles from the high school in an adjacent county. And though we do
not personally know anyone affected, we know many who do know someone who was
there. Some of our church youth know students in the school. We continue to
pray for all our young people, their teachers, and their families for healing
for how this has affected them. A tragedy like this has a ripple effect going
out and affecting more than we can imagine.
“If calamity comes upon us . . .
we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will
cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us” (2 Chronicles 20:9) And
later these words, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2
Chronicles 20:12).
The question on our minds is what
can be done to keep a tragedy like this from happening again. The answer is complex
and multi-faceted, but to quote lyrics we sometimes sing at our church, “God
will make a way where there seems to be no way.” I am praying that is true.
And while we search for that
wisdom, we keep our eyes on Jesus just as Jehoshaphat instructed as we cry out
to Him in our distress. We pray for God’s revival power to come and refresh our
land and turn hearts to Him, and we hold on to our hope.
Here at our house, Jerry and I will
continue to remember in prayer those affected and injured by this tragedy and offer our
heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.