the unexpected headline

there are some posts that are just hard to write, for me at least. i don't know how to approach the subject gracefully, how to say what i feel or think of it. so i've decided to just go ahead and put it out there. i think when most people went to bed last night, the expected to read headlines in the morning about how the dark knight rises brought in x amount of money and it is going to be one of the biggest of movies of the year. facebook status and tweets were going to be something along the lines of "the dark knight rises is awesome!!" and "loved the dark knight rises!"  i don't think anyone imagined they would see "Batman Shooting, 12 people killed...." i've read a number of articles about it and one that really stood out was about the husband who grabbed his wife's hand while they ran for their lives and how he wouldn't let go of her for anything, or the one about the college grad who died and it seems so unfair because of her passion to live and a exciting career in front of her. and what about the three month old that was shot? and finally there is the one about the gun man's mom who said she was concerned that her son was involved, that she needed to call the police.

there are so many questions. how did the gun man get that messed up? why did he choose that town, that movie theater? where is God in this, how can a good God let this happen? of all my questions, the only one i can answer with certainty is that God will receive His glory in this. i don't know how, but i do know that He uses crisis such as this to bring people to Himself. as awful as this situation is, it beautiful to see the nation come together in this time, to see that even though we are fifty states, we are one nation, under God. and, despite the fact that many people don't believe in God or don't believe they need God, they all call on God when something like this happens. this shooting could have happened in starkville where i live or in jackson where my family lives. it could have happened in washington state where my relatives live or in washington dc where friends live. so, i guess all i can say is thank you Lord for keeping my loved ones safe. and Lord, please comfort the broken, show your greatness, and receive Your Glory.

image from google

every blessing you pour out Lord, i'll turn back in praise.
when the darkness closes in Lord, still i will say,
blessed be your name.