Resilience

I have never ever seen such resilience amidst such horror.  With each interview, each testimony from the witnesses of the terrorizing event in Aurora Colorado, there emerges light.  Each account not only describes the painful scene, but also rays of hope.

I have been astounded at the things I have heard.

The media tends to focus on the tragedy, but I keep hearing the people follow up the facts with faithful assurance that they will work through their pain together, and I keep hearing them bring out the positive aspects of the story.  For instance, one girl was saved because of her boyfriend's sacrificial protection over her, taking the bullet while covering her body with his own.  When interviewd, she praised the bravery of her boyfriend and told of his heroic character, not only in this instance, but in others as well.  Another interview with the brother of a girl lost in the incident, had a similar response.  He told the media that he did not want to focus on the gunman or the details of the crime, he wanted to focus on who his sister was an on the amazing charitable work that she was part of.  He intends to pick up where she left off, using this tragedy to point people to helping the victims of the Colorado fires.

On and on the interviews go. And on and on, I hear people clinging to their faith in God, and their faith that they will be able to work through their grief and bring hope for the future.

I am astounded at the things I have heard.

Being thankful for what is, instead of being bitter for what is not, that is the lesson I am learning.  If it wasn't for Jesus' sacrificial protection over us, taking the nails for us while covering us with His body and His grace, we would all perish.  Shouldn't we be praising Him for what He did for us, and for Who He is, rather than dwelling on what we have lost?  Instead of focusing on the crime and darkness of the world, shouldn't we be focusing on picking up where Jesus left off on this earth, using His saving grace to point people to Him and help victims of the fire of evil?

Though this life may be devastating at times, there is always hope and there is always someone to share God's grace with.  May we all take this tragedy and learn from the people who have survived, and from their resilience in such a horror.