When the flag is at half-mast
At the University of Georgiafootball game on Saturday, the flag flew at half-mast as all flags in Georgiawill until the last interment of the four who perished in the Apalachee schoolshooting. As we observed a moment of silence for them, many of us took that time to pray on behalf of thevictims and their families.
We’ve read firsthand accounts from brave teachers and students at Apalachee High School whoacted in heroic ways during the school shooting this week. Every time I do, tearswell in my eyes at the unimaginable difficulty they went through.
Somewhere, people read about thistragedy in a few news cycles, then after several days, the feed segues and their attention is drawn to morecurrent news . For those who went through those horrifying few minutes, whetherthey were physically injured or not, they will carry effects from being theretheir entire lifetimes. Hopefully, God will bring healing and help so that theyeventually do not experience the memories in the same intensity— still they will remember.
Jerry pastors a church onlyseventeen miles from the high school in an adjacent county. And though we donot personally know anyone affected, we know many who do know someone who wasthere. Some of our church youth know students in the school. We continue topray for all our young people, their teachers, and their families for healingfor how this has affected them. A tragedy like this has a ripple effect goingout and affecting more than we can imagine.
“If calamity comes upon us . . .we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and willcry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us” (2 Chronicles 20:9) Andlater these words, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2Chronicles 20:12).
The question on our minds is whatcan be done to keep a tragedy like this from happening again. The answer is complexand multi-faceted, but to quote lyrics we sometimes sing at our church, “Godwill make a way where there seems to be now way.” I am praying that is true.
And while we search for thatwisdom, we keep our eyes on Jesus just as Jehoshaphat instructed as we cry outto Him in our distress. We pray for God’s revival power to come and refresh ourland and turn hearts to Him, and we hold on to our hope.
Here at our house, Jerry and I willcontinue to remember in prayer those affected and injured by this tragedy and offer ourheartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.
