The headlines all say, “23 students and 1 teacher held hostage.”  The articles say,  “when the officers stormed the room all the hostages were evacuated unharmed.”  It seems to me the headlines should have read “24 students and 1 teacher held hostage.”  And the articles should say, “when the officers stormed the room all the hostages but one were evacuated unharmed.” 

As I type this post my online music player randomly selected Hillsong “From the Inside Out.” 

A thousand times I've failed

Still your mercy remains

And should I stumble again

Still I'm caught in your grace

And it’s true that God, for, everlasting your light will shine when all else fails; And never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame; And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise. 

On April 20, 1999 I witnessed, through the media, the beginning of what has now become a long list of events similar to what happened at the beginning of this week.  At the time none of us could believe what had happened and I doubt any of us dreamed similar events would come to fruition.  However, it did happen and similar events come almost as no surprise anymore. 

After the first few events happened many across the country cried for more gun control; they blamed what happened on the lack of law.  If guns hadn’t been available would these events have happen?  True, we can argue the magnitude of each of these events might have been smaller, but do any of us want to lose loved ones?  This week’s event has shown that even just one casualty is depressing, heartbreaking, and saddening. 

Why is it we have to look for a mold, a sign, a precursor?  Do we not know?  Have we not learned?  We are all broken, we are all hurting, and we all need our neighbor. 

God, my heart and my soul, I give you control; God, consume me from the inside out.  Let justice and praise become my embrace.  Lord God let me love you from the inside out and in so doing may you Lord be glorified.