That has been my prayer since hearing the news yesterday of the Virginia Tech massacre. Even though I'm thousands of miles away, I read the names of those killed yesterday and weep. This tragedy is so beyond understanding.
Today, however, my thoughts turned to the gunman and his family. As the media and bloggers cry out for justice and meaning, do they remember that this young man had a family who is also grieving? His mother and father and sister came from Korea to make a better life in the United States. His sister attended Princeton; his parents still own their dry cleaning store. As people flock to console those killed yesterday, is there anyone consoling these people who must be experiencing a grief and guilt and pain beyond what any of us can imagine?
The news reports state that he was a "loner," "treated for depression," among other things. Was he really as alone as he thought he was? Did anyone befriend him, or did he spend day after day, virtually invisible, with no other relationships other than his oft-played video games?
Was he just so tired of the lonliness and depression and pain that he thought there was no way out? Did his anger at being invisible overtake him? Was it rage that pushed him to commit this heinous act? We will never really know, because he is no longer here to ask. We, like his family, and the victims' families,will only wonder.
Please do not get the impression that I am excusing his behavior. His actions were horrific. So many lives have been permanently changed and affected. However, for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, the mandate is clear. "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all . . beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord' . . .Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good . . ." (Romans 12:17,19,21 ESV) My heart just broke when I read that some of the Korean students attending Virginia Tech were "staying together" for fear of student retribution. This is not a time to speak hate; to act in hate. This is a time to extend compassion to the victims' families (including the gunman's family) and do what we can to help the survivors and the families and this school and this community heal.
What can those of us who are so far away do?
- open our Bibles and pray, pray, pray
- look around, in our own communities; notice the "invisible" and commit before God to not look "through" them anymore
- teach our children compassion and kindness and civility, and don't allow teasing and hatred and meanness to be an option
- give support (financially, as well as time and energy) to organizations such as the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI) who are working tirelessly to remove the social stigma of mental illness and find better, more effective treatments and interventions
- don't allow our hearts to give in to hate and/or apathy. "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. . ." (Ephesians 4:26,27 ESV)
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