One year ago, one person destroyed lives and innocent perceptions about the world on the Virginia Tech campus. I wrote a poem that morning. Maybe I will re-post it here later today, after my Bible Study this morning. In the meantime, if you go back to my April 2007 archives, or do a search on the title–APRIL GUN METAL MORNING–you can read it now.
In your prayers this day, remember those students left behind to cope with a new kind of life. Pray for their Post Traumatic Stress whose realities are sleeplessness, nightmares, sudden starts, fear of new things. Pray for healing on every level. Pray for the parents, the sisters and brothers, the children, the extended families, the best friends, the faculty and staff of Va Tech, the caregivers on every level. Pray for the good people of Christ Episcopal Church in Blacksburg and particularly for Scott Russell, the Associate there who is also Episcopal Chaplain on campus.
And pray for the repose of the souls who went home to be with God on that awful morning one year ago. “Remember thy servants, O Lord, according to the favor which thou bearest unto thy people; and grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, they may go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (from “Burial I” in The 1979 Book of Common Prayer, page 488.)
I encourage everyone to go back to April 2007 and read the poem. And then, look above it and read “Blinded By the Light.” It is an incredibly powerful sermon. The juxtaposition of Paul’s conversion experience with the horrible events at Virginia Tech lay out the story of Christian hope and challenge in images that are visceral and multi-layered. Thank you Sheila for your prophetic voice and your willingness to challenge our complacency and cut through the rhetoric to the truth of our lives as God’s people.
Sheila,
Thank you for the reminder.
S.
That’s beautiful, Sheila. I guess I wasn’t reading blogs much last year, because I missed it.
So, Laurel, huh? Sounds great! It’s good to hear from you. I love blogland!