When it first happened I could not weep for two days. My 16 year old daughter and I went to church on the third day and as the prayer service started we started to weep and weep, and we just hugged each other for almost an hour and wept.
I know there are millions who have been touched by this just as deeply.
I ask myself, there have been thousands killed in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in 911.
I believe it is for all these victims that we weep. I do not think it is just for Virginia Tech. It is for Columbine High School too, senseless murder anywhere it happens.
The nation is weary with grief. The carnage that we endure is so trivial when compared to the rest of the world. We weep too for the nations of the world.
Life in so many nations does not seem to be treasured as much as it does here.
Our nation is teaching many other nations of the world how to mourn, how to value life, how to live.
To so many others in the world, they think, so what: 32 lives lost, so what. There were over 180 killed in Iraq this week in one day by car bombs. Where is the outpouring for them.
But in this little college town in southwest Virginia, they come to mourn with us. Why ?
The Hokies have captured the attention not only of the nation, but of the world.
Over and over you hear of the sense of community, of the Hokie nation, the support, the caring.
I went there. I know first hand what was there. I think the rest of the world is trying to search out the answer. I know the answer in my heart, it's hard to explain.
Ironically, when I was there a new fraternity was started on campus. I was in the first pledge class. We had already planned before this tragedy to meet this October for our 40th reunion. The fraternity lasted and prospered. It went national as Zeta Psi.
The last time I met some of my frat brothers in Blacksburg several years ago, some of us formed a foursome and went out to the campus course to play golf. We got to the first tee. We looked at each other and it was a beautiful morning. We talked about how God had been so good to us. Tom Gallagher said. Guys. Lets say a prayer before we play and thank God for what he has done for us.
As about 15 groups behind us looked on in amazement we all dropped to our knees and prayed and thanked God for his goodness. That was the only time in my life that I have ever witnessed anyone praying as a foursome on the first tee box.
There is an old story about Frank Beamer ( used to come by our frat house all the time..was friends with Bob Harter from Hillsville, where Frank Beamer grew up ) and George Welsh the past football coach at The University of Virginia.
The two had died and went to heaven on the same day. An angel was showing George Welsh his mansion first and George was so in awe over his permanent dwelling.
Then the angel took them down the street to see Beamers house. It was 10 times bigger than Welsh's house. Welsh said...hey that is not fair. Why does Frank Beamer get Virginia Tech written all over the front lawn. Why does he get a house 10 times bigger than mine. It was all Orange and Maroon. VT written all over the place. It had a football practice field. HOKIES written all over the place.
The angel said......"THATS NOT FRANK BEAMERS HOUSE....THAT IS WHERE GOD LIVES"
That says it all.....God is a HOKIE......and all HOKIES know it........!! |
