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Virginia Tech Tragedy- would we re-write our yesterday?
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I have been in college for almost two years. We students have experienced what it is like to have immense school pride, join with people you would never speak to and make a community. The familiarity of this campus is our comfort. We know every building, hall and a large majority of the professors. Familiar faces are at every corner and we take delight in knowing this is our home. What happened at Virginia Tech has affected a lot of campus communities worldwide and ours is no exception. I can not even fathom what VT's pain must be like, they're feelings of betrayal and intrusion from one of their own. They have lost all sense of security. I would be devastated if anything like that was to take place here; at our home amongst our family. I don't think I will ever go to class the same as I used to. Fear is of the enemy but truthfully what some of us are feeling is fear; I am not the only one.
If it happened at VT what stops it from happening here? Classmates, friends, and I have even discussed campus shootings. Not too long ago we talked about how it would never happen here and that the buildings are safe. What once seemed so impossible is now possible and I don't have much security. People have already jokingly made threats. The fear is etched in the back of my mind. In literature class today I sat by the door that was wide open to the hallway and with every odd sound I heard, I felt uneasy. That shouldn't be. Oh how I long for my eternal home: a place of total peace, safety, and comfort away from the fears of this world.
As a college student, this event feels very personal. God has brought to light once more the inevitable fact that our life here is but a blink of an eye. No one is guaranteed their next breathe. I am so quick to forget. What breaks my heart and makes me ache for those killed and wounded is that all they did was go to class. I can't image the things that ran through their minds as they died or sit healing in a hospital.
They were simply pursuing a dream of an education, staying committed to their classes and the responsibility. Never in a million years would the thought "I am going to die in class" come across my mind. Class is a comfort zone a place where every face is familiar and you're enjoying learning, not worried about your death. There was no preparation for what lied ahead. Life existed and life went in a matter of seconds. I ask you this question, how many of those killed would have re-written their last day on earth? I guarantee all of them would. I am constantly reminded that life is precious and not timeless. Today could by my last day in my temporary home, no one knows but God. If I die today, would I rethink yesterday? Yes, I would have gone to bed when my boy friend did and cuddled him longer rather then staying up to perfect a draft; a draft, not even for a grade. I would have spent more time with my heavenly Father preparing my soul for the next day. I would have returned the 12 voicemails on my phone.
I would have called my family and best friend whom I have not spoken to in a week. I would have enjoyed my day rather then rushing through it. I would have hugged my boy friend for a little longer this morning rather then worrying about the fact I had to leave in 20 minutes and had not put on my make-up yet. How shallow of me and that would never matter if today was my last day. My mother has always emphasized the fact that we're not promised tomorrow. In fact, she probably mentions it about 3 to 4 times a day.
She is always saying "now girls what if this were your last day? Would you say that to your sisters?" Sometimes we give her a hard time and when she begins to say "what if this is our last day?†we interrupt her and chant the quote we know so well. The thing is she is so correct and now I am thankful for her constant reminder. My mother was right. Truthfully, I never think about the fact today could be my last day. Subconsciously I don't think I have really believed it. Who honestly walks around thinking about that? We all should be! Not in a frightful way but in the way God intended.
We need to mindful of our every action, word and deed. Are we giving an accurate representation of Christ everyday? Would we be proud of the glory we brought to him the day before our death? We are his hands feet, set here on a mission and we need to be actively fulfilling it everyday.
Part of our mission is being apart from the world and realizing how precious the intangible vs. the tangible is. I can't physically touch or hold onto the love between Kevin and I but it surpasses all the intangible pleasures of life. That is only one example.
In Ecclesiastes God has an important message for us. I can not quote all of the chapters; I can offer a snippet of them. I encourage you to read Ecc. Ch. 1-6. Ecc. 4:4 says, "Then I observed that most people are motivated to success by the envy of their neighbors, but this too, is meaningless, like the chasing of the wind. Ecc. 5:16 "As people come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away-- throughout their lives they live under a cloud--frustrated, discouraged, and angry."
Basically speaking, other then what we do for the Kingdom of God and to his glory is meaningless. The ways of the lord are not meaningless. God desires me to spend more time to my calling as Kevin’s wife then to the vain pleasures of this world. I slip up a lot. I am not saying that God doesn't want us to work hard at our school work and jobs... what I am saying is that with everything we do it needs to be meaningful and not in vain. We need to strive to truthfully live apart from this world.
Only then can we begin to live each day as it is our last. Like many situations in my life, God has used this tragedy to re-open my eyes to what his Word says and what I should be doing. My prayer is that we all get God's words about this deeply planted within our spirits. I pray we remember how short our life here is and that we need to live meaningful, Godly lives as though we knew today was our last.
My heart and prayers go out to the victims, the families of the injured and deceased and the entire Virginia Tech community. May God be with you, his presence powerful in this time of anguish and may you look to Him for comfort in your pain and affliction.
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