Everyone's talking about it. The Virginia Tech shootings. The media is having a
hay day with it. Students are feeling unsafe in their environment. Dads and moms are holding their children a little tighter and longer. Family and friends are grieving. People are angry and trying to figure out what happened.
When I heard what had happened the first thing I did was email my brother Junior and his wife Emily. They live in Virginia and Emily happens to be a crime scene investigator. I was wondering if she had been called to the scene. Junior emailed back and said that she hadn't. He did say that they knew some people who attend VT and that he had been glued to the TV all day. My brother is normally one of those very positive people, so his response kind of surprised me. He then said that he was having a moment that he was wishing that God would come back because there was so much pain and hate in the world. He said all of this before any of the circumstances surrounding the shooting was known. It was a reaction. I must admit that even though I love living, (please believe that I do, I have another wonderful sister in law who happens to be a psychologist and I don't want her to feel worried) that I have felt the same way at different times in this life. You do get overwhelmed with the amount of pain and suffering that is in this world. When Junior emailed me this it reminded me of a song that Matt sang in church once that I love. I want to share the lyrics with you.
THERE IS A PLACE MORE PRECIOUS THAN ANY OTHER
THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN'S DOOR
A PLACE WHERE WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER
A SHELTER IN TIME OF STORM
AND THO' IT'S A TREASURE THIS HOME'S NOT FOREVER
I LONG FOR THE LIFE THAT'S WAITING FOR ME
chorus
WHERE NO ONE WILL EVER BE HUNGRY OR COLD
AND NO ONE WILL HURT OR WILL EVER GROW OLD
NO ONE WILL DIE AND LEAVE SOMEONE ALONE
THAT'S WHEN I'LL KNOW I'M HOME
verse 2
THERE IS A PLACE WHERE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS BE SPOKEN
PROMISES WILL BE BELIEVED
A PLACE WHERE YOUR HEART CAN'T BE BROKEN
AND LOVED ONES WILL NEVER LEAVE
SO IF YOU ARE LONGING FOR A PLACE OF BELONGING
THE HOME YOU'VE DREAMED OF IS WAITING FOR YOU
repeat chorus
THAT'S WHEN I'LL KNOW I'M HOME FOREVER NO PAIN OR DISEASE
ALL WILL BE EQUAL
ALL WILL BE FREE
TRUE LOVE WILL COME AND WE'LL FALL AT HIS FEET
THAT'S WHEN I'LL KNOW I'M HOME
bridge
AND FINALLY I'LL SEE WITH THE DARKNESS ERASED
NOT THROUGH A GLASS, BUT THEN FACE TO FACE......................
THAT'S WHEN I'LL KNOW I'M HOME.
One of my favorites: "Now the dwelling place of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:3b-4