I think we are all a little “off” right now. Thoughts and images of the horrific happenings in Connecticut are surely at the forefront of most of our minds. Believe it or not, the same thing happened here in Asia just a few hours prior to the one in America, but with less damage. A mad man entered an elementary school and stabbed 22 kids. Unbelievable that the events were both on Friday.
It is horrible. There is very little else to say.
Parents are not supposed to bury their children. When they do, it truly is tragic. My heart breaks with the parents whom are spending this week prior to Christmas saying good-bye to their beloved children. It really does. I’m sure they were busily preparing for the happiest of all times, and then this happens. It makes me physically nauseous just writing this now.
In writing this post, I am not going to even attempt to make sense of this event. It defies explanation.
I will say this, though; we live in a broken world. We live in a world where real evil exists. It is all around us all the time, yet we often chose to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to it. I know I do.
Then something like this happens and we are confronted with this reality. This present, unimaginable evil that is thrust upon our consciousness through a sudden unspeakable act. It happened with the Oklahoma bombing in 1995. We saw it on 911 and again with Columbine. Now this.
Personally, I find myself in a weird place in processing the Connecticut shooting. I find myself just sad. Sad over the brokenness of the world in which we live. I am grieving for the families that have lost their hopes, dreams, and joys all at the hands of a mad man. It was not supposed to be this way. God did not want sin in this world. Yet it is here.
For this, I find myself grieving the brokenness of this world.
However, it is precisely this brokenness of the world, this bondage of sin which we have all been born into and which we have all willingly submitted, which makes Christmas the most special and wonderful holiday of them all.
We celebrate Christmas because God was not willing to sit passively by while this broken world rotted and decayed, consuming His children with it. God saw the death we had inherited from sin and it grieved Him. It grieved Him to the point of sending His Son, God incarnate Jesus Christ.
We know this story, but I think most of us have become impervious to it. It is lost in songs and presents and hot chocolate and even family & friends.
The Christmas story is ultimately about the initiation of the God of the Universe towards us. It is about Him giving us life through the birth, perfect life, sacrificial death, and redemptive resurrection of His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus.
The Christmas story tells us that this world and its troubles are temporary, but the love of our heavenly Father is eternal.
As I move into this Christmas season, my heart really is heavy for the loss of those families in both of these incidents. It really is.
However, I am also draw to the celebration of the Savior of the world, Christ Jesus. He came to earth to seek and save the lost, of which I was among them. For this, I celebrate with my entire being.
Yes, evil is present and running rampant in this world. But then there is Christmas. Not the Christmas of gifts and crowded malls and tacky decorations.
Then there is the Christmas of the Savior of the world. The Savior whom offers to us “the way, the truth, and the life”.
It is with this in mind that I want to both grieve the brokenness of this world, and yet celebrate Christmas with all of my heart this year (and every year).
(If you are interested, David Platt did a great job of articulating some thoughts on the shooting in Connecticut. I hope you will find this article as helpful as I have.)
Really great post, John. This makes me think of what Paul Tripp says, something like Christians are both the saddest and the happiest people. In the face of real sorrow and brokenness and horror, there is real joy, redemption, and hope in Christ. Aub and I miss you! Praying for you. Merry Christmas.
Laura, wow, I miss you guys also. Thanks for the words. Very good point on the Paul Tripp quote.
Thanks for your post, John. I was so heavy hearted this whole weekend, even in the midst of entertaining loads of people. I sat in service yesterday, so, so saddened by what happened. Your words really helped me to process my thoughts and restore hope in my heart. Thanks for taking the time to share. I’m also praying for you, John. I know it’s hard to be far from home. Hope to catch up soon…let me know when you want to have that Skype convo, too!
Yeah, this one does feel heavier than others ones for me also. Maybe it’s the age. Maybe it’s the season. Not sure. Definitely look forward to Skyping. You are around this holiday or are things crazy?
I agree on the sadness of it all. I won’t try to figure out why this instance is hitting me harder–could be the age of the victims or the fact that this is another rampage in a line of 3 or 4 over the last couple years. I feel sometimes superstitious to continue to believe and have faith in God, but even if my faith is a complete farce, I’d still go with it. If only to trust that Someone created each person and gives them value. Not believing makes value creation up to me vs. inherent. Or something like that. 🙂 I’ll stop now.
Brett, good stuff. It does get dicey, but I have landed similarly to you on this. I actually echoed you sentiment a few months ago here. . . https://johngunter.com/whom-shall/ . Thanks for you input here!