Violent Killings in Lancaster

Ninety minutes.

That's what separates my home, my family, and my son from a quiet, reserved, private community of people who's lives were torn apart yesterday as one lone man acted out his rage by taking hostage all the little girls (with the exception of a few) in a one-room school house, shooting them, and then killing himself.

The latest news reports that five girls have died, and six are still hospitalized, making this the nation's third deadly school shooting in less than a week! My heart is indeed stuck in my throat.

I can not even wrap my hands around this. I don't understand how someone can be so angry that they would walk into a school, and shoot innocent children. Innocent! I can't imagine how frightened those children must have been. I can't imagine what went through their minds as one by one, their friends were shot, and as the shooter worked down the line of girls, coming closer to them. I can't imagine what the parents are going through -- the ones that lost their precious children yesterday, the ones who have children recovering in hospitals, and the ones who are a part of their community. I can't believe that this was so close to my own home, and in a community that is so far removed from modern society! A community that does not condone violence, and that stresses humility, family and community, and separation from the world.

The Amish are well known for being very private people who believe in God, and they have held together despite pressure to change from our modern world. They are not perfect, but they are a strong example of a community that supports and cares for its members. They are "a people apart" from the world.

If you have ever visited an Amish community, you have seen how they work together. The adults instill strong ethics in the children, teaching them from a young age to honor God, be a blessing to God, and to work hard. I am blessed to be close enough to this community that I can visit any time I want. I love to watch them work out in the fields. I love to watch the children play with simple toys ... wooden hoops and sticks, wooden handcarved toys, and the beautiful little faceless dolls. When I step into an Amish market, it reminds me of a beautiful quilt, with all the bright blues, wines, white, black, purple, and green fabrics that make up their simple clothing. Yes, very simple, yet, very functional. I am completely fascinated by the Amish and how they manage to get so much done in one day, without all the trappings and conveniences of modern technology!

And, in just one morning, one person, an evil, sick person, has managed to rip apart a community, and a people of their trust in our world. Now, I can only wonder how this single event will affect their lives. Will they continue to send their children to one-room school houses? Or will they take this as a sign that their children should no longer be educated? Will they pull away from our world and completely isolate themselves, or will they continue to live and work among us, while maintaining their separation from us?

And finally ... finally, finally, finally ... the Bush administration has called for a school violence summit to be held next week with education and law enforcement officials to discuss possible federal action to help communities prevent violence and deal with its aftermath. Aftermath. There should never be "aftermath" in our children's schools. And ... it is a shame that it took yet another shooting to shake them into action. The news reported today that only 6% of our nation's schools have made any changes to their security and preparation since the Columbine tragedy! Appalling. While a sad thought that we have come to this, it is more than time that changes are made to secure the safety of this Nation's children!

The more violence I see occurring in our schools, the more hate I see being fostered in our children, the more liberal theology I see being implanted in our kids through their curriculum and teachers, the more my eyes are opened to the cruelty children are faced with ... my heart fractures a little bit more each day for what my son faces ahead of him. Schools with metal detectors. Schools with security detail. Will there be bars on the windows? Will the children have to carry electronic pass cards to move from room to room? Or even to get into the building? They can't even wear jackets or heavy sweaters in the classrooms or throughout the school for fear that they may be carrying a concealed weapon. The mere fact that an elementary child could be suspect of carrying a concealed weapon is heart breaking!

Little by little, my heart and mind reconcile to keeping my children at home and homeschooling them. I know I can't shelter them from everything, but this is one step towards keeping as far removed from the violence as possible, while instilling in them Godly values, principals and morals.

I don't have a Tuesday Toss-up for you today. Instead, my heart weaps for the community in Lancaster, PA that has suffered such tragic loss. A community, which is practically a stone's throw away. I pray for the families of this community, and for the children that were directly involved with the shooting, that the Lord will help them work through this appaling tragedy, and mend their minds and hearts to what they have seen and experienced.

Finally, I open up my comment section for you to share your own thoughts and emotions on this subject ...