Conversation Point

They Who Now Mourn

The Virginia Tech web site simply states: "Two shootings on campus today have left 33 dead. Thirty-one, including the gunman, died at Norris Hall; two died at West Amber Johnston Hall."

Where to begin? With prayer, I think.

Prayer for families who are about to hear or have already heard that their child died this morning at the hands of an unknown gunman. Prayer for the wounded and their families. Prayer for the people who witnessed these attacks and came out alive. Prayer for the faculty and staff and students who will be back on this campus in the days to come. Prayer for the medical teams who cared for those who lived and attended to those who died. Prayer for law enforcement authorities who will be investigating and sorting through the pieces of information to understand the whole of it, what happened and why.

Prayer is where we must start because it is too soon for anything other than making our way to the love of God from which nothing can separate us. We must pray for those touched by this tragedy because they may not be able to pray for themselves. This is our time to carry their burden of sorrow and grief until they can carry it for themselves.

Tonight we pray and tomorrow the Virginia Tech community will gather to begin the process of healing. The university's president, Charles Steger, has said this is what must come first so that they can decide what must come next. We will be with them in prayer through whatever comes next.

posted by Cory L. Kemp @ 9:14 PM