I awoke suddenly to the sound and shaking of thunderous booms.
Reaching for the phone, I dialed 911. While the phone rang, another set of booms. Would the police get here before something awful happened? Who's door was the sound coming from? I told the dispatcher that someone was attempting to break in to a home nearby and the address. She assured me that the police were on the way. The booms had stopped by the time the dispatcher picked up the call. What did that mean? She asked me if I wanted the officer to come talk with me or just to check around? Panicked me didn't want to get out of bed and answer the door at four in the morning. I pleaded that they just check into the matter.
About five seconds after getting off the phone, it occurred to me that of course I want to know what the heck is going on...did they get into the house, was the guy caught, was anyone hurt, did anyone see this desperate creep(s), was my family in danger ...? In the mean time, my child jumped into my bed with the dog. I sat motionless, listening. Was that some more BOOMS further away? How quick were the police going to be here?
Then I devised a plan, that if the dude made it through my door, I'd hit him upside the head with the skillet, kick him in the nuts, and duct tape him, so that when the police did arrive, he'd be packed up and ready to go with them. But would it be against the law for me to open the door as soon as the BOOMS started and carry out my plan just outside my door? I would be defending my family after all. Why sit around waiting to see if he made it through? I was ready to hurt the dude(s) and for justice to be served. How dare the idiot emotionally assault me, my family, and my neighbors!!!!
To my child, I quipped, "Is that the dog shaking?"
Groggily, half-way back to sleep, she replied, "Nope. That's you."
Just a few days before the afore mentioned incident, I received a puzzling text referring to some awful shootings. I went online to check out the news, unaware of the extent of what "shootings" meant. The story was right there, apparently already making national news. A lone shooter, whose haunting photo stared at me with that creepy smile, had thrown tear gas canisters into a theater where people were thirty minutes into watching the new Bat Man movie "The Dark Knight Rises." This guy began walking and shooting randomly, murdering at least twelve people, and injuring many others. WHAT?!! WHY?!!! My mind could not quite wrap its self around this information. Reading that the suspect was already apprehended just added to the questions forming in my mind. I imagined that the people involved, and their families and friends must have many more questions. My heart goes out to them, and my prayers are still going up.
Then these two questions came to mind -
1. WHAT DOES ONE DO WHEN THERE ARE NO ANSWERS?
2. WHY DO WE HAVE THIS UNREQUITED DESIRE FOR ANSWERS?
The futility of life here on Earth causes me to reflect on priorities, needs vs. wants, anger, wanting to feel safe and secure where ever we go.... We were not created to understand every single thing, no matter what our IQ may be. Only God knows what can be known. He created us with limitations so that we would know that we need Him. Trusting Him for justice, that His promises still remain true, and remembering how powerful He is and how all this stuff on the planet, around it too, are all His. This gives me comfort. I feel secure when focusing on Him and what He says in His Word. I pray that the people impacted by this ridiculous, disrespect of life, draw closer to Him who gives us strength.
Trip Lee feat. Leah Smith, Limitations from the "Between Two Worlds" album
Father God, please draw these folks close, open their hearts to know You, know Your eternal, perfect love, and rest in the hope of eternity with You. I pray that in the months, and possibly years ahead, that the community embraces these people with love and support and that Your will be done in every one's life who was touched by this horrific tragedy. Please give us eyes to see the things we keep missing, to help all the lost in society at least experience Your love through the members of Your Body. Help us to be courageous in reaching out to people around us, oh Lord. Help us to perform our duties as Your ambassadors. Thank you, Jesus, son of God, for doing what you did for us, so that we can live in a depraved world, with hope, peace, and joy. Please continue to increase our faith. Thank You for walking with us, being so near, and hearing our pleas. I am so grateful that You display Your beauty brightly, through all the pain of being here. Your faithfulness never fails, and I am so in awe of You. Thank You for this day!! Please continue to bless your children. In Jesus' name, Amen!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
Then a pause. My heart was pounding. Was that my door? Then, from the files in my mind, it occurred to me, after the second set of booms, that someone was attempting to break in somewhere. But not at my door, right? Reaching for the phone, I dialed 911. While the phone rang, another set of booms. Would the police get here before something awful happened? Who's door was the sound coming from? I told the dispatcher that someone was attempting to break in to a home nearby and the address. She assured me that the police were on the way. The booms had stopped by the time the dispatcher picked up the call. What did that mean? She asked me if I wanted the officer to come talk with me or just to check around? Panicked me didn't want to get out of bed and answer the door at four in the morning. I pleaded that they just check into the matter.
About five seconds after getting off the phone, it occurred to me that of course I want to know what the heck is going on...did they get into the house, was the guy caught, was anyone hurt, did anyone see this desperate creep(s), was my family in danger ...? In the mean time, my child jumped into my bed with the dog. I sat motionless, listening. Was that some more BOOMS further away? How quick were the police going to be here?
Then I devised a plan, that if the dude made it through my door, I'd hit him upside the head with the skillet, kick him in the nuts, and duct tape him, so that when the police did arrive, he'd be packed up and ready to go with them. But would it be against the law for me to open the door as soon as the BOOMS started and carry out my plan just outside my door? I would be defending my family after all. Why sit around waiting to see if he made it through? I was ready to hurt the dude(s) and for justice to be served. How dare the idiot emotionally assault me, my family, and my neighbors!!!!
To my child, I quipped, "Is that the dog shaking?"
Groggily, half-way back to sleep, she replied, "Nope. That's you."
*~~***~~*
Just a few days before the afore mentioned incident, I received a puzzling text referring to some awful shootings. I went online to check out the news, unaware of the extent of what "shootings" meant. The story was right there, apparently already making national news. A lone shooter, whose haunting photo stared at me with that creepy smile, had thrown tear gas canisters into a theater where people were thirty minutes into watching the new Bat Man movie "The Dark Knight Rises." This guy began walking and shooting randomly, murdering at least twelve people, and injuring many others. WHAT?!! WHY?!!! My mind could not quite wrap its self around this information. Reading that the suspect was already apprehended just added to the questions forming in my mind. I imagined that the people involved, and their families and friends must have many more questions. My heart goes out to them, and my prayers are still going up.
Then these two questions came to mind -
1. WHAT DOES ONE DO WHEN THERE ARE NO ANSWERS?
2. WHY DO WE HAVE THIS UNREQUITED DESIRE FOR ANSWERS?
The futility of life here on Earth causes me to reflect on priorities, needs vs. wants, anger, wanting to feel safe and secure where ever we go.... We were not created to understand every single thing, no matter what our IQ may be. Only God knows what can be known. He created us with limitations so that we would know that we need Him. Trusting Him for justice, that His promises still remain true, and remembering how powerful He is and how all this stuff on the planet, around it too, are all His. This gives me comfort. I feel secure when focusing on Him and what He says in His Word. I pray that the people impacted by this ridiculous, disrespect of life, draw closer to Him who gives us strength.
Father God, please draw these folks close, open their hearts to know You, know Your eternal, perfect love, and rest in the hope of eternity with You. I pray that in the months, and possibly years ahead, that the community embraces these people with love and support and that Your will be done in every one's life who was touched by this horrific tragedy. Please give us eyes to see the things we keep missing, to help all the lost in society at least experience Your love through the members of Your Body. Help us to be courageous in reaching out to people around us, oh Lord. Help us to perform our duties as Your ambassadors. Thank you, Jesus, son of God, for doing what you did for us, so that we can live in a depraved world, with hope, peace, and joy. Please continue to increase our faith. Thank You for walking with us, being so near, and hearing our pleas. I am so grateful that You display Your beauty brightly, through all the pain of being here. Your faithfulness never fails, and I am so in awe of You. Thank You for this day!! Please continue to bless your children. In Jesus' name, Amen!
Very compelling.
ReplyDeleteThank you, lbdiamond.
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