Sirens. Lots of them, all day, unrelenting. That's the first thing that enters my mind when I remember the events of April 16th, 2007. The sirens and the unsettling, anxious feeling of knowing something terrible must be happening. What was it? Where? Who?
I was sitting in my doctor's office hardly able to breathe for the sinus crud. Then the news on the waiting room television really took my breath way. "Would you please turn up the volume?" someone asked. Then, more emphatically, "turn it up, turn it up!" Frightening images of police officers wielding large weapons on the Virginia Tech campus, just a mile down the road. Sketchy details of a shooting, and a shooter still on the loose. Warnings for everyone on campus and in the town of Blacksburg to stay indoors. Lockdowns for our children in their schools.
By late afternoon we all found ourselves in a state of shock. Thirty-two innocent victims dead, others wounded, and a shooter who had taken his own life. Unimaginable horror. Here, in sleepy little Blacksburg. Could this be real?
Today I will renew my prayers for the families and friends of those who died. For those who were left injured and otherwise traumatized. For the police and rescue personnel who will always carry with them horrible, unspeakable images. For all of Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg. And I think I will make an effort to leave a little trail of kindness around town today. Like the person ahead of me in the Starbucks line did two days after "that day" five years ago, buying a gift card and leaving it with the cashier to treat others until the card ran out, just to show that there was still goodness in the world. A small gesture with a big impact.
Today my daughters have donned their Hokie attire for Hokie Spirit day at school. My husband wore his Virginia Tech golf shirt to work. As for me, this die-hard Georgia Bulldog is sporting a Hokie t-shirt. None of us have any affiliation with the university other than the fact that we live in Blacksburg. And if you lived in Blacksburg on that horrific day five years ago, you will always be a little bit of a Hokie in your heart. You couldn't live here and not experience the heartache, the grief, the anger. We all have a story of "that day." We all still get a little anxious when we hear sirens that go on a little too long. We all knew...someone. And by the grace of God, we all will prevail.
Showing posts with label Virginia Tech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia Tech. Show all posts
Monday, April 16, 2012
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The VT Anniversary
The emotions caught me completely off-guard. The lead story on the 11:00 newscast last night was all about today's anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre. As I watched the video of the preparations being made on campus and in town, my town, tears started rolling down my cheeks.
"Where did that come from?" I wondered. Then I remembered. As the photo of slain Corps of Cadets member Matt LaPorte flashed on the screen a second time, I recalled sitting in my car and watching his funeral procession go by last year. I had been on my way downtown after Bible study to meet a friend for lunch. As I approached a cemetery up ahead, the two cars in front of me came to a stop, and as I got closer I understood why.
The first things to catch my attention were the state police officers on motorcycles, driving in continuous circles in the middle of the street, blue lights flashing. Once they moved out of the way, row after row of cadets in full dress uniform came marching in formation down the street. I rolled down my window to listen to the steady, somber sound of the drumbeat. There had to have been several hundred cadets, it really was an impressive sight. It was so sad...here was a young man who was training to defend his country, and he was gunned down while sitting innocently in his college classroom, along with 31 others with similarly sharp minds and high ambitions.
I was humbled to be able to witness this processional, and I said a prayer for the young man's family and fellow cadets. I remember feeling irritated at people in other cars who turned around and drove away, rather than wait for the processional to pass. It seemed so disrespectful, so selfish.
How quickly we move on. How quickly we get back to our routines and our agendas and to-do lists. I have gotten back to mine as well. I pray, however, that the unspeakable tragedy of a year ago will continually remind me to take time for others. It only took 5-10 minutes out of my schedule to watch those cadets march by in honor of their fallen comrade, a simple show of respect. It really doesn't take much effort to show others that we care about them as long as we have a willing heart to do so.
To mark the anniversary of the tragedy, this morning a group of VT students hosted a prayer breakfast at my church. It was the perfect way to start the day, gathering with a group of believers to pray for victims' families, the campus and town, and strength to face the day, and to praise the name of the One who is our strength. One of the students shared the following passage from 2 Corinthians 4:7-11: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our own body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."
Today I will pray that as the media spotlight ones again shines on Blacksburg, God's glory will outshine the lights of the television cameras and the world will catch a glimpse of God's divine strength and all-surpassing power. I will pray for his Spirit of love and peace to descend on our community and in the hearts of those whose hearts are broken. And I will praise Jesus, the one who heals the hurt, and whose light shines through the darkness. May we walk in service to him, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal bodies.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
"Where did that come from?" I wondered. Then I remembered. As the photo of slain Corps of Cadets member Matt LaPorte flashed on the screen a second time, I recalled sitting in my car and watching his funeral procession go by last year. I had been on my way downtown after Bible study to meet a friend for lunch. As I approached a cemetery up ahead, the two cars in front of me came to a stop, and as I got closer I understood why.
The first things to catch my attention were the state police officers on motorcycles, driving in continuous circles in the middle of the street, blue lights flashing. Once they moved out of the way, row after row of cadets in full dress uniform came marching in formation down the street. I rolled down my window to listen to the steady, somber sound of the drumbeat. There had to have been several hundred cadets, it really was an impressive sight. It was so sad...here was a young man who was training to defend his country, and he was gunned down while sitting innocently in his college classroom, along with 31 others with similarly sharp minds and high ambitions.
I was humbled to be able to witness this processional, and I said a prayer for the young man's family and fellow cadets. I remember feeling irritated at people in other cars who turned around and drove away, rather than wait for the processional to pass. It seemed so disrespectful, so selfish.
How quickly we move on. How quickly we get back to our routines and our agendas and to-do lists. I have gotten back to mine as well. I pray, however, that the unspeakable tragedy of a year ago will continually remind me to take time for others. It only took 5-10 minutes out of my schedule to watch those cadets march by in honor of their fallen comrade, a simple show of respect. It really doesn't take much effort to show others that we care about them as long as we have a willing heart to do so.
To mark the anniversary of the tragedy, this morning a group of VT students hosted a prayer breakfast at my church. It was the perfect way to start the day, gathering with a group of believers to pray for victims' families, the campus and town, and strength to face the day, and to praise the name of the One who is our strength. One of the students shared the following passage from 2 Corinthians 4:7-11: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our own body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."
Today I will pray that as the media spotlight ones again shines on Blacksburg, God's glory will outshine the lights of the television cameras and the world will catch a glimpse of God's divine strength and all-surpassing power. I will pray for his Spirit of love and peace to descend on our community and in the hearts of those whose hearts are broken. And I will praise Jesus, the one who heals the hurt, and whose light shines through the darkness. May we walk in service to him, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal bodies.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
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