Sometimes, it sucks being isolated on campus where the only place you can get news during the day is a sketchy student newspaper and some vague reports being tweeted out. However, being someone who rarely checks her phone during the day (believe it or not), that leaves the possibilities even more slim that I get current events in their entirety until long after the day is done.
Reminds me of when I was in the 3rd grade. On a particular Tuesday, a very beautiful, crisp, early fall day. Not a cloud in the sky. Perfect kickball weather for when recess came around. All of the adults around us (the students) during snack time (a mid-day break between the start of the day and lunch time), were crying. Staring at televisions in the teachers lounge, the teachers, custodians, the principal, the office workers, they were all staring in awe. Some comforting others, some standing alone, simply stunned. Students being called out of class all day. As the minutes passed, another "(insert student name), please come to the office," and another student gone for the rest of the day. I don't remember much of what was said to me that day. What I do remember, in fact, is the silence of the day, and the date. September 11, 2001.
My parents tried to explain what had happened. I didn't get it. Until my parents turned on the evening news and I saw something that I couldn't believe. A plan, deliberately, crashing into a building. The devastation shook me to my core. In my innocent 3rd grade mind, I didn't know what to make of it. However, it didn't seem to be just my innocent 3rd grade mind. Even my father, someone who I attribute vast knowledge and understanding, didn't know what to do with himself.
Since then, the news has been flooded with one word that seems to have been desensitized since the first utterance: terrorists.
Terror.
For those of you who do not know, Paris suffered from a terror attack earlier today (read more into it here). Much like I was in the third grade, I have no clue what to do with myself. I don't know how to help. I don't know how to take this in. All I know I can do right now is pray.
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." --2 Corinthians 4:8-10
I haven't the slightest clue how to soften these blows, how to stop these blows, how to bring peace, wholly, to the world. However, I know that the strength of God, the glory of Jesus, and the will of man will come through. The straw on the back of this camel will break soon, and all terror in this manner will cease. I pray for the all who suffered in this tragedy today. Whether one of the ones killed, the family, friends, or acquaintances of one of the ones killed, maybe someone who thought they might know someone in this deadly attack, or someone who sat watching the news today, like many of us, in horror. I pray that peace wash over Paris and the world, and that we all might grow further in love for one another and find a solution to this ongoing fear of hearing of something like this the next day. I pray Jesus spread his glory and grace upon Paris as they heal from today and revive their spirit. I pray for the leaders of the nations and that they may find a solution to this. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.
Mary Taylor
Reminds me of when I was in the 3rd grade. On a particular Tuesday, a very beautiful, crisp, early fall day. Not a cloud in the sky. Perfect kickball weather for when recess came around. All of the adults around us (the students) during snack time (a mid-day break between the start of the day and lunch time), were crying. Staring at televisions in the teachers lounge, the teachers, custodians, the principal, the office workers, they were all staring in awe. Some comforting others, some standing alone, simply stunned. Students being called out of class all day. As the minutes passed, another "(insert student name), please come to the office," and another student gone for the rest of the day. I don't remember much of what was said to me that day. What I do remember, in fact, is the silence of the day, and the date. September 11, 2001.
My parents tried to explain what had happened. I didn't get it. Until my parents turned on the evening news and I saw something that I couldn't believe. A plan, deliberately, crashing into a building. The devastation shook me to my core. In my innocent 3rd grade mind, I didn't know what to make of it. However, it didn't seem to be just my innocent 3rd grade mind. Even my father, someone who I attribute vast knowledge and understanding, didn't know what to do with himself.
Since then, the news has been flooded with one word that seems to have been desensitized since the first utterance: terrorists.
Terror.
For those of you who do not know, Paris suffered from a terror attack earlier today (read more into it here). Much like I was in the third grade, I have no clue what to do with myself. I don't know how to help. I don't know how to take this in. All I know I can do right now is pray.
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." --2 Corinthians 4:8-10
I haven't the slightest clue how to soften these blows, how to stop these blows, how to bring peace, wholly, to the world. However, I know that the strength of God, the glory of Jesus, and the will of man will come through. The straw on the back of this camel will break soon, and all terror in this manner will cease. I pray for the all who suffered in this tragedy today. Whether one of the ones killed, the family, friends, or acquaintances of one of the ones killed, maybe someone who thought they might know someone in this deadly attack, or someone who sat watching the news today, like many of us, in horror. I pray that peace wash over Paris and the world, and that we all might grow further in love for one another and find a solution to this ongoing fear of hearing of something like this the next day. I pray Jesus spread his glory and grace upon Paris as they heal from today and revive their spirit. I pray for the leaders of the nations and that they may find a solution to this. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.
Mary Taylor
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