Jewel Mische: Virginia Tech

Sometimes, the Rev. William King says, the answers to the tough questions just don't come. And when they do, they don't come easily, or often they come up short. 'There is an incredible temptation to explain, to domesticate, to tie up all the loose ends of something so horrible,' said King, the Lutheran campus minister at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., since 1984. 'Sometimes, one just has to be quiet.' And so it goes across the Virginia Tech campus, where police say 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui fatally shot 32 people and wounded at least 15 others Monday (April 16) before turning the gun on himself. --- My heart goes out to the Virginia Tech community, the families and everyone related to the 32 victims. My heart goes out for the killer. =( For those teenagers that shot up schools, they're in jail if not dead.. For those who have committed suicide, and for those who are doing self-harm.. Those are people who aren't crazy, aren't disturbed, aren’t insane. Just hurt… and something way deeper. The Vtech massacre.. heart-breaking. I couldn’t help but Imagine what the guy was going through during the days he was still alive.. imagine what things happened to him to end up that way? What was going on inside his mind. I have read about the two plays he wrote, ‘Richard McBeef’ and ‘Mr. Brownstone’, I almost couldn't read the rest of it. My heart was pounding out my chest.. When he wrote those plays, he was actually crying out for help. Maybe.. he felt hopeless and powerless over people that were doing him harm. Maybe it’s true that his girlfriend broke up with him, maybe nobody made the effort to talk to him when he wanted someone to listen.. or maybe he just needed attention? I don’t know, but I’m sure he was pretty messed up more than I could imagine. I am torn between anger at this person for what he did to so many innocent lives, I am angry but I don’t mean it.. He was obviously a very tormented soul. I’m more saddened because no one saved him from himself.. =( I only pray that this tragic thing helps someone, somewhere to see what is in themselves or in someone else and reach out, whether it be to help or to be helped. You see, two of the few things we should remember: We’ll never know when and how.. kung hanggang kailan tayo sa mundong ibabaw. Our days here on earth are numbered. We are all responsible sa lahat ng taong nakakasalamuha natin. You could make someone realize that they are needed if you just take the time to ask them if they are okay. You don’t need to spend forever with them just long enough so they know you care. --- Anyways.. tryin’ to switch mode.. =) I read this some time ago.. As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts. One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off on time. One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident. One of them missed his bus. One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change. One's car wouldn't start. One went back to answer the telephone. One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have One couldn't get a taxi. The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today. Now, when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone.. all the little things that may annoy me, I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment. Next time your morning seems to be going wrong: The children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated [preaching myself! =) ]: God is at work watching over you. > May God continue to bless us with all those annoying little things and may we remember their possible purpose. -x-