Staring Outside My Window

Right outside my window you can is the skyline of downtown Orlando. The view is awesome. Everyday when I get home I run out to the balcony and see all the little ants marching along their way. I find this relaxing as I am in the comfort of my own home, 8 stories up from the hustle and bustle. My apartment is on the corner of our building and on the top floor. From my window I have a view of the Home Depot Supply building, which is located next to my room. On top of this building is an American flag illuminated by lights for all the I-4 drivers to see. Yesterday the flag returned to full mass after being at half for a week following the massacre at Virginia Tech.

Last week I clicked on a link that briefly introduced the story as it was unfolding. As always, the first instinct is to downplay the events, but as the truth came to light, pure terror set into my heart. 33 people lost their lives in all. One crazed and confused young man forever altered the lives of families, college students, a community, a nation, and the world. Stories zipped across fiber optic wires bringing this tragedy home for so many families around the world. The news brought this story to us in live vivid color as camera phones captured the panic of so many students. This was more than just a kid and a gun. This was a sign of things that have been brewing for quite some time.

The blame game was one of the first things the media will try to do in order to make sense of it all. Shifting the responsibility to those who could in no way be held accountable for someone’s senseless acts. Some folks just loose it sometimes; there is no real protocol for someone acting in this manner. I managed student dorms for over 4 years. There is no way the persons in charge could have ever suspected something like this.

My heart went out especially to the young man by the name of Ryan Clark. In looking through the list of victims, he embodied so much of me in college. A member of the marching band, a resident assistant, and volunteer for local charities make our college resume almost identical. His first reaction as an RA was to investigate the trouble on his floor. I have been that position hundreds of times and could not imagine doing anything different. After reading his story, this tragedy hit so much closer to home. Unfortunately, he was just on of 32 other stories that ended that day.

Why, why does something like this happen in the grand spectrum of things?? I pondered this all week and even now as the flag outside my window has returned to its normal position. This is my only solace in this hard lesson learned. I have never really gotten picked on in school. A couple of times some older kids tried to pick on me, but I was always popular enough that I had friends to stick up for me. I look back on it now and realize that I being in a position of popularity, I had the power to lift up those who were picked on, but did not always rise to the occasion. Mr. Cho in actions and cryptic pictures demonstrated a hurt that we all have felt from time to time. Neglect, rejection, isolation are all emotions that none of us like to feel but did seem to torture this young man. On Sunday night I was at a worship service were we prayed for this young man and others like him. With each car that passes my window I realize that there are more cases like this one that could happen anywhere and any time. It was mine and the prayer of a few hundred other folks that a great sense of healing would come upon not only the families of those who lost so much, but also on those who could commit a crime like this. Through this unfortunate event, I hope that people come to a greater understanding of the bond that exist through us all. We are all God’s wonderful little creations, and the love that we can share between each other, is the thread that can unite us all.

One Love

Love One Another